Exam pressure: Students back out of Metro contest

BANGALORE: Bangalore Metro might have given aspiring designers a perfect platform to display their talent. But upcoming college exams seem to be acting as a deterrent for many of these youn'uns. Two days before the deadline, the young minds are sure excited, but are now thinking twice about participating in Namma Metro-IIID (Institute of Indian interior designers) ideas competition for stations named after Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda.
Ananya Ramesh, an architecture student of RVCE was among the first few to register online and download an application. She had also managed to form a team to work on it. But, thanks to exams, nothing's progressed post that. "We are yet to decide on the idea. It's a big chance for students like us but deadline is the problem. We are still trying not to give up," she told TOI.
Mrudula V, another keen contestant from an interior designing institute, is now almost sure on cancelling her participation. "There's not enough time. It's hard to even finalize on ideas when in a group. We have not yet completed the project. It's not a small thing. It's a project that could well project our talent and involves thinking about great personalities. Exams and projects at institute is keeping us totally occupied," she explained.
Arjun Hosakere is still unsure. The fast-approaching deadline apart, he is also upset with the limited space available to experiment with his ideas. "I feel restricted when it comes to the space available. It makes thinking all the more tough. So I don't know," said this student of R V school of architecture.
Amarnath S V, a first year MCA student at Ambedkar Institute of technology, has decided not to to participate, for he now feels he's bereft of any `designing instinct'. "Initially I was interested but a closer look at the instructions had me think hard. The ongoing exams are also adding to the pressure," he explained.
As for a few like Harsha Aiyappa, the ideas have been progressive but they still have some way to go. "We hope to put it all on A-2 sheet before the D- day. Our exams are also starting on January 21 and we haven't started preparing yet," said this II semester BSc Biotech student from St Joseph college.
Will Namma Metro now stretch its deadline for these young minds?
For details of the competition visit: http://bmrc.co.in