Hi, I’m Antriksh Gupta, a final-year undergraduate student in Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur. As I prepare to graduate, I’ve been thinking a lot about the path that brought me here—from a small town Indore in Madhya Pradesh, to one of the most prestigious engineering institutes in the country.

How it all began
To be honest, IIT was never part of some grand plan. I wasn’t the kid who dreamt of cracking JEE from the age of ten. Like many others, I chose the Math stream in Class 11 without a fixed destination in mind. JEE preparation followed naturally—it was what most of us in that stream did. I stayed in Rejan for my prep, studying alongside my schoolmates.

Choosing Computer Science
Computer Science wasn’t a childhood passion either. It was a practical choice, influenced by my teachers and my elder sister, both of whom saw potential and opportunities in this field. Looking back, I’m glad I listened. Over the past four years, I’ve come to appreciate how powerful and transformative this discipline truly is.

Falling in love with the subject
What started as an informed suggestion became a real passion. I loved courses that went deep into the fundamentals—understanding how computers work at the hardware level, how algorithms power our daily tools, and how systems scale. My favorite area is systems engineering—designing fast, scalable, and reliable systems that process large volumes of data.

I’ll be joining a company as a Systems Engineer, and I’m excited to turn this interest into a career.

Beyond academics
One of the best parts of IIT Kanpur is the freedom to explore interests beyond textbooks. I served as the Secretary of the Astronomy Club in my second year—a dream come true for someone who has always loved staring up at the night sky. One highlight was conducting a workshop on processing raw data from the James Webb Space Telescope to generate astronomical images. That experience combined my love for space and tech in the most unexpected way.

I have also been playing the synthesizer in various hall and department events and spent a lot of time playing table tennis with friends. These small joys kept me grounded.

Favorite memories
It’s hard to point to a single favorite memory—what I will really carry with me are the countless hours spent with friends. From intense project nights to quiet conversations under the stars, those are the moments that will stick.

My favorite time of year on campus? Antaragni—the energy, the creativity, and the camaraderie make it unforgettable. The cold January weeks, though... not so much.

Reflections on the scholarship
Receiving a scholarship every year was not just financial support, it was a reminder to reflect. Each year, the renewal process required me to write about my journey, which turned into a moment of pause to think about how far I had come.

A message to those who come next
If I had to give one piece of advice to new students, it would be this: Take full advantage of everything this institute has to offer. The academic flexibility, the freedom to explore your interests, the opportunities to grow in every direction—don’t take that for granted.

IIT Kanpur gave me more than a degree—it gave me clarity, confidence, and lifelong memories. I’m grateful for every bit of it.