How I overcame a challenge and achieved my ambition?
My initial career choice before I got into one of the Top B schools in the country was the Merchant Navy. Highly motivated, clad in white uniform, I was mentally prepared to conquer the seven seas. The love for the ocean and my spirit of travelling the world attracted me to this profession where I initially had to complete a training ship before I was allowed to sail on a Merchant Vessel.
I started my one-year training ship in Pune which was a centre run by my shipping company. Budding mechanical engineers would join this centre every year to become competent to be given a contract to sail on an actual ship. The centre concentrated on instilling discipline and core knowledge on how to handle the engine room of a ship. I excelled in my one year time in the training ship and came out with flying colours by topping my training batch. I was all set to sail and the anxiety levels were high.
My first stint was from Japan were I was made to board my ship, an ore carrier which was set sail for Brazil in a week’s time. The first day of my shipping career was not what I expected. I was made to slog in the engine room of the ship from 6 am to 10 pm. But then again I didn’t mind the job as I was highly motivated. Days passed by and the work got tougher especially when the ship set sail to Brazil. Working in the engine room of a ship at 45 degrees temperature slowly starts taking a toll on your body and not to forget sea sickness which makes things worse. There was a day where I fainted due to work exhaustion and this did not go well with my seniors. It was nearing a month of my time on the ship and the ship docked in the port of Singapore. My seniors approached me and told me that I was not fit for sailing and that I had to pack my bags and head home. At this point of time I was shattered and didn’t think of anything but going back home.
When I was back home in India my first step was to plan an alternative career path. My confidence had taken a hit and somehow I managed to land a job at an aerospace services company. Working at the firm helped me get a better perspective of business and that’s when I decided to get myself a formal education by doing an MBA. I cleared the entrance exams and landed a seat at TAPMI, Manipal. After all the hard days I was put through I see myself at a better position at this point.