The article I’m writing is basically a concise version of my biography which focuses on the last 2 years of my life. My name is Abhijith and I was a normal run of the mill student throughout my school and college life. I preferred having fun with my friends and getting into trouble more than sitting at home and studying. Post graduation, I landed an IT job in Bangalore like the majority of the B.Tech degree holders from across India (no offence). The work there was simple enough and not so challenging, but there was plenty to do. Then around 1 and a half years into the flow of things I started to realize the gravity of my situation. I started to notice that people with 5 or 10+ years of experience were still doing the same kind of job that I (a fresher) was doing. There was not much growth involved and I also noticed that though we get hikes and increments, the salary scale wasn’t increasing much. I started to panic, started to worry if I would also just waste away in that office, doing nothing out of the ordinary, being a nobody in that concrete jungle where innovation was nowhere to be found and the only thing left was routine. I started to blame myself for not being competent enough and not giving more importance to my future. I felt that my life was a train wreck. It was evident that I needed to do something about this situation and that if I didn’t I was done for. I started to introspect, find what qualities I had in me and to find how I could put them to the best use. I searched online, took advise from friends and family and at the same time started to give a lot of competitive exams. I knew that I didn’t have much time left with me to make something out of my life. From the umpteen options I had, I narrowed it down to 3 main options.
1.Apply for the Indian Air Force (IAF) – Technical wing, Officer post (Through AFCAT)
2.Apply for CAT and pursue an MBA
3.Pursue a career in Data Science.
The order of Interest I had in the above were the same starting from the top to the 3rd option. But each of these were very challenging and competitive. I knew that managing preparations for these along with my work would be herculean task but since I was sure that banking on only one of these may prove counterproductive, I decided to create a well-organized timetable and stick to it with all that I’ve got.
I registered myself in one of the best institutes that provides coaching for CAT in Bangalore. This was the first thing I did as this would also help me clear AFCAT exam which is the 1st stage of selection into the IAF. Classes were in the morning at 7 on all weekdays and gets over by 9:30 and my office shifts were from 1 PM to 11 PM. Going to classes was easy but getting back from classes to my apartment in Bangalore’s notorious traffic was another story altogether. Once I was done with my shift, I used to go back to my apartment, revise on what I studied that day and prepare for the next day as well. I used to sleep around 1 AM in the morning or so after my studies were done. The weekends were kept for extra studies and practicing for CAT exam. The free time I got in Office was put to good use by registering myself for a Data Science course offered by my employer itself.
All my hard work paid off when I cleared my CAT and AFCAT exams. At once I joined the most reputed SSB (Selection Board for Indian Defence forces) coaching centers in Bangalore which was situated 20 kms from my apartment. And to my bad luck the classes were conducted 7 days a week and that too from 9 in the morning to 4 in the evening. This proved to be very difficult. I asked for a change in shift from my managers and took the night shift for a month. I attended the classes which included indoor and outdoor sessions. I had to manage my sleep and other requisites very tightly around my office and classes. During these days I also attended Interviews from many reputed colleges and Finally converted TAPMI. I had to take a few consecutive leaves from office, but my superiors were very supportive as I always completed my work or delegated It to someone before leaving, but still I would like to thank them
The Call for my SSB interview was scheduled on March and it is a 5-day interview which consists of the following main sections – A psychometric test, Outdoor/Physical Test, Group Tasks and A personal Interview. From the 189 candidates who appeared only 47 were shortlisted after the 1st day and only 2 were recommended for the IAF and I was one of those 2 candidates. I was wonder-struck but at the same time happy that my efforts paid off. Then a later date was set for my Medical Examinations which again was a 3-day process but unfortunately, I was found medically unfit because of a scarring in my eye. I did send an appeal and try again but the IAF is very strict about such matters and hence I wasn’t selected for the IAF. Though sad about not getting through, I was happy that my efforts did pay off and my friends and family were extremely proud of me.
I Finally decided to pursue the PGDM program which TAPMI offered me, and now I’m back to college again, trying to make something out of my life. I plan on continuing with my data science courses and taking the IT and analytics stream in my second year which would compliment my interest in the same.
In the past one year I understood that people should try to be the best version of them they can, and if they can put in their all, one can achieve anything they set their eyes on.
Submitted by
Abhijith Krishna Kumar
PGDM 1st Year,
T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
