So last 6 months was full of me receiving insights about research, phd applications, conferences and etc. and generally trying to understand where I fit into all of this. So when AACL 2025 was announced, happening at our own campus and organized largely through our lab, there was no way I was going to miss the chance to volunteer. Getting to observe and work closely with researchers and organizers felt like an opportunity that does not come often.

Preparations started months in advance. There were regular meetings, planning sessions, and constant coordination to make sure things would run smoothly. I did not attend every meeting, but I stayed updated and could see how much effort people like Sushma ma'am, Deepak sir, Gajanan sir and Dhiren sir were putting in to get everything right. Watching that process itself was a learning experience.

The conference ran from December 19 to 24, right in the middle of winter break. I went home briefly and then came back to campus on the 19th, which turned out to be an adventure in itself. Flights were chaotic, accommodation was uncertain and things were generally messy. Somehow, everything worked out. At this point, the lab honestly feels more like home than my hostel room.

I was initially assigned to the registration desk, but later moved to the tech team, handling audio, microphones, Zoom and cameras for oral presentations and talks. On the first day, I was completely lost. I picked up my volunteer tee and ID, and mostly followed Sharath around trying to understand what was going on. The day started with the opening ceremony and keynote in the main auditorium, after which we moved to Room 21 for oral presentations.

That first day, I mostly observed. We had a detailed run-of-the-show sheet that helped keep things on track. There were some technical hiccups, but nothing major. Most of the time, I was just passing microphones around and making sure Zoom was running. Other rooms were not as lucky and faced serious audio and connectivity issues, so we were grateful ours went smoothly. Between sessions, there were coffee and lunch breaks. The food was surprisingly good, apparently from Gulmohar. I liked the atmosphere of people discussing work and interests with each other. I did not talk much myself, as I was unsure of what I would even say given how early I am in my research.

Day 2 went much more smoothly. It was mostly me, Vijendra and Sharath handling Room 21. That day also included CFILT Day, where alumni gathered to remember Prof. Pushpak Bhattacharyya and share memories. The highlight was the cultural event and the gala dinner. The dinner was great, and I managed to talk to a few professors. I still wonder how many of those conversations will actually turn into email replies, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Day 3 was rough. Only Sharath showed up early in the morning, and he had to handle three rooms alone. Sessions started late, and things were chaotic. I had assumed he would set things up and I would join later, but after seeing how bad it got, I made it a point to come early for the remaining days. The rest of the day went better, and we ended with the closing ceremony, award distribution and a photoshoot.

The real volunteering challenge began after that. The next day had eleven parallel workshops, each needing tech support. By then, my intern phase was over and I was assigned to handle an entire room on my own. My room, Room 14, had delayed setup, microphone issues and general confusion. Thankfully, the workshop presenters were understanding. Attendance was not very high, but we managed to complete the sessions without major issues.

By Day 4 evening, we were exhausted. Me, Vijendra, and Sharath went to Versova beach to unwind and later visited a cat cafe. It was a much needed break and one of the nicest moments of the week.

Day 5 was easily the best. I deliberately chose to be in Room 21 because Prof. Ashutosh Modi was running a workshop there. He is the reason I got into research and was my professor at IIT Kanpur. To my surprise, he remembered me. I spent most of the day with his students, who were all extremely sharp and we even discussed a potential project together. I knew Prof. Modi was chill, but this was on another level. I did have a small moment of regret about not staying back at IIT Kanpur, but that is life.

Overall, volunteering at AACL was an intense but rewarding experience. From waking up at 6 in the morning to working late into the night, I got to see a conference from an organizer's perspective. The academic exposure was great, but the networking and informal conversations were the real highlight. By the final day, I had spoken to students from different countries and learned how similar and different research culture can be across places. Next time, I would like to be on the other side of the conference as an attendee. This was fun and a great experience. Kudos to the entire team.

The Alchemist is about a boy who wants to follow his dreams and the different obstacles, experiences, and lessons he encounters along the way. The story is straightforward and easy to follow, and most of its ideas are conveyed through simple events rather than complex plot twists.

I think this book works especially well as a starter read. It doesn't demand much from the reader in terms of attention or background, and the lessons are communicated clearly. In many places, the book feels less like a story meant to surprise you and more like a lesson you're supposed to reflect on while reading. Because of this, it helps to keep an open mind rather than treating it as something to rush through.

From a broader view, the story is fairly predictable, particularly if you are familiar with similar themes in anime or other coming-of-age narratives. This can make parts of the book feel slow or unexciting. Still, considering how old the book is, that predictability is not too surprising and doesn't completely take away from the experience.

One thing I liked is that the book is short and well-paced. You can finish it in one sitting without feeling tired or overwhelmed. Even if the ideas are not entirely new, the book presents them in a calm and readable way. Overall, I would recommend The Alchemist. It's not a deep or complex book, but it's an easy and thoughtful read that can be enjoyable, especially if you're just getting into reading.

Here are some quotes I liked from the book:

"It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

"If you start out by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work towards getting it."

"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected."

Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (6/10)