Sleep Debt and Sub-Wraps: Term 1

Part 1: MR equal to MC wasn’t enough

If there’s one word to describe Term 1 at ISB, it’s “whiplash.” One moment I was eagerly walking into my first class of O-week i.e MVCM (Mastering Verbal Communication), the only time I had looked forward to more than the parties, mixers, and team-building activities. And the next? I was being cold-called to give a mini self-introduction using frameworks like ABC (Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity), storytelling principles, and the primacy-recency effect all within 4 days. Surprisingly, that little 2-minute speech turned out to be my social currency for the week. The positive feedback from section mates poured in and for a brief moment, I felt like I had found my footing in what was soon to become an academic hurricane. 

I had been dreading Term 1 ever since I saw the course list: Financial Accounting, Statistics, Managerial Economics. A social sciences grad like me going toe-to-toe with terms like null hypothesis, present value of bonds, and solving Cournot equilibrium using differential calculus? It felt like I was crash-coursing degrees in five weeks. Stats felt like learning Greek backward and the end-term exam could’ve easily doubled as a stress test for NASA astronauts. Econ was thrilling thanks to game theory, but the ramp-up from “what is a supply curve?” to “solve this Bertrand equilibrium” was so steep. 

Amid all this quant chaos, there was one beautiful, bias-busting refuge: LSAT (Leading Self and Teams) an organisational behavior course that felt like a warm blanket in a snowstorm. We unpacked concepts like decision-making fallacies, motivation frameworks, and how situations often overpower personality. It was not just theory, our professor turned the classroom into a simulation lab of the human psyche. Those lessons? I weaponized them during club elections (Spoiler: they worked). 

Still, what saved me- truly, were my peers. The midnight tutoring sessions, the 1:1 crash courses on accounting entries, they were nothing short of academic CPR. I owe my performance to them more than to any textbook. 

By the time Term 1 ended, I was burned out to a crisp. I don’t say that lightly. It came not a moment too soon. I realized ISB isn’t just rigorous, it’s a pressure cooker with no instruction manual. But somehow, through the chaos, the cold calls, and the caffeine-fueled nights, I didn’t just survive. I found my people, and parts of myself I hadn’t met before. 

Part 2: LFG! — Inside the ISB Club Elections 

At ISB, club elections aren’t extracurriculars- they’re warfare. Replace swords with memes, alliances, and beautifully designed manifestos. I hadn’t planned on running for any elected position. Honestly, I was aiming for the safer route i.e, selected positions, interviews, maybe a PoR that didn’t involve full-blown campaign mode.

But in the next moment, I found myself nominated and committed to running for President of the Photography Club- because if I wasn’t going to keep my passion alive here, then what was the point?

What followed was two weeks of unapologetic hustle, strategic visibility, and caffeine-induced campaigning, all while balancing mid-terms and end-terms (yes, all in the same fortnight, because why not test your soul and schedule at once?).

I created a campaign strategy rooted in storytelling (“Nothing random here” ) — just like we learned in MVCM. I applied recency bias to time my WhatsApp updates, covered other club events through my lens to show commitment, and even conducted a photo walk right after exams where 25 people showed up sleep-deprived but excited. That moment? A core memory.

The real magic, though, was my campaign crew. Friends across sections amplifying every post, spreading word-of-mouth like wildfire, and showing up for every pitch moment. I even built a pitch deck for the Soapbox round like I was going to present to VCs. And why not? These elections were a crash course in Strategy, PR, public speaking and people skills.

Yes, there was competition. But also? Unexpected friendship and the adrenaline rush of seeing people cheer for your name in group chats with the classic “LFG!” spam.

I walked away not just with the Vice Presidency, but with lessons in messaging, timing, consistency, and the undeniable power of teamwork. This win wasn’t just mine; it was a shared trophy with the people who believed in me, pushed me, lobbied for me, and made sure every pixel of my campaign landed right.

Part 3: Biryani and BYOB 

ISB life isn’t just books and deadlines, it’s also about badminton games, late-night campus walks, and dinners that turn strangers into family. But that was just the beginning. I found myself invited to a Mexican lunch, potluck dinners and a charming day tour of old Hyderabad.

Our quad hosted a DIY sub-wrap night, complete with chopped veggies, sauces galore, and chaotic teamwork. What started as a casual “let’s do something different” became one of the most appreciated dinner ideas by our friends, not just for the food but for the shared laughter, pre-party prep, and the rare legends who stayed to help clean up.

Between intense GSB campaign parties and midterm stress, I found joy in games of Catan and Ticket to Ride- low-key bonding tools. You’ll never know someone’s true nature until they block your longest train route. In the madness of Term 1, these moments reminded me: at ISB, it’s not just about earning a degree it’s about finding your people. 

Learning Beyond the Letter Grades 

Term 1 at ISB felt like being tossed into the deep end- sleep-deprived, overstimulated, and constantly sprinting to stay afloat. My grades may not make it to a LinkedIn post, but the learnings I carry definitely will. From decoding financial statements to decoding people during campaign season, every experience sharpened me in ways no classroom alone ever could.

What I’ve gained isn’t just academic insight, it’s self-awareness, resilience, and a whole lot of empathy (especially for anyone running on 3 hours of sleep).

The pressure was real, but so was the growth and as Term 2 begins, I walk in not just wiser, but a little more well-rested, and a lot more grounded. 

Synopsis:

Nandani is currently pursuing the PGP (Class of 2026) at ISB. She is also Vice President of the Photography Club. A graduate in Political Science and Psychology from Jai Hind College, Mumbai, she has worked in her family’s hospitality business and later in the tech startup space with Mygate. Passionate about photography, especially street, travel, and animal themes, she also manages an animal-rights publication and is deeply involved in animal welfare and rescue work. At ISB, she hopes to broaden her perspective, embrace new challenges, and carry forward her empathy-driven approach into future opportunities.