In our list of India's Best 50 - the 50 Most Employable Students from the Class of 2021-23, we feature MBA students who have walked that extra mile and done that little more to stand out! One of those featured in today's story, Tanish Arora, has shown an incredible amount of passion to achieve his true potential. Read on and find out his story!
The following are Tanish Arora’s set of responses to a questionnaire floated amongst MBA graduates to determine the top 50 Most Employable MBA Graduates of the Class of 2023. Amongst the massive number of entries and responses being evaluated, Tanish's story and profile stood out. Here's his story in his own words.
Name an instance where you wanted something and went out of your comfort zone to achieve it OR Tell us the biggest risk you have taken so far in your life.
Since my early childhood, I have always found public speaking extremely fascinating and desired to become a public speaker. I used to show my willingness in every possible public speaking opportunity in the school, although I used to hardly get any. This is because there were always certain students who were known to be good at that and they only used to get most of the chances. But then I got one in class VI when my class was responsible for conducting the school assembly on Independence Day. Since a lot of class students were required to conduct the same, I also got a role to play. I was quite happy about the same and was looking forward to that with utmost sincerity. I was supposed to read the news headlines of the day. Now, this is something for which you hardly get the time to practice, as this is supposed to be prepared in the morning only when you get the newspaper delivered. Due to a lack of practice with the content, I fumbled on the stage. As I was doing it, the Principal of the school instructed me to get off the mic and take a side. I did as instructed. Post the assembly when everyone went off to their classes, the Principal came to me, slapped me tightly, and said, "How dare you come on stage with such confidence knowing that we had special guests in our school today?" Tears came from my eyes when I looked down and walked back to my class. As I entered the class, students made fun of me, I went to my seat and sat quietly. I didn't tell anything to my parents too when I reached back to my home because I felt that they would also scold me for my mistake. That was the extent to which I was feeling guilty of that. A couple of days later, another public-speaking opportunity came. Like every time, this time too, I showed interest. But the class-teacher told me that the Principal had asked her to not allow me to speak again on the stage. This kept continuing with other opportunities too which came as time progressed. I was feeling extremely guilty but at the same time even after facing so much of amusive insults, my passion was still alive. I asked my parents to shift me to some other school but I didnt tell them the exact reason. Initially, they ignored my requests but when I kept stressing about it for weeks and months, they finally agreed.Finally, I got into the new school, which was an opportunity for me to refollow my dream. I started fresh. This time I was cautious before choosing the opportunities. I started off with class-level activities and did my best job there with utmost practice. Thats how I won the confidence of my teachers and I started getting better opportunities. I moved gradually to higher levels of opportunities but made sure that practice remains the key. In Class IX, I was given the title of Best Actor Male by the school, the youngest ever to receive the title. In class X, I won a zonal-level, inter-school debating competition. In class XI, I was made the Vice-Head Boy of the school. In class XII, I was given the responsibility of School Representative. And on the day of my farewell, The Principal said to me, I cant imagine how the stage of my school will look when Tanish Arora wont be there anymore.
When was the last time someone relied on you? OR What did you do which was purely for someone else - a truly selfless act?
I visited Delhi last week and was traveling in DTC bus from Satya Niketan to Lajpat Nagar. I swiftly entered and took the last seat near the back gate of the bus. On the very next stop itself, a boy aged around 12-13, entered the bus. He seemed to be a ragpicker from his dressing and from the bag he was carrying at his back. As he entered, a man who was sitting next to the back gate, started shouting at him and instructed him to alight the bus (Exact words - Oye, nichey utar). I stood up, held boys hand, and asked the man in an assertive manner the reason he should alight (Exact words Kyu utrega ye niche?). To which the man replied Just look who he is (Exact words Abey dekh to isey, kaun hai ye). Then I responded to him by saying So what, is it your bus? No. its govts property. Every individual has the right to travel on the bus with the ticket. If you have any problem, feel free to alight but he wont (Exact words To kya hua? Ye tumhari bus hai? Nahi na. Sarkaar ki hai na. Jiske paas ticket hai wo isme sawaari karega aur jisey dikkat hai wo utar jaaye, par ye nahi utrega). The man didnt speak anything then. I offered my seat to the boy and asked him if he had the money to buy the ticket, to which he denied. I bought him the ticket. He alight 2 stops later and while alighting said, Thank you, bhaiya! with a smile.
Tell us about a time when you disagreed with an opinion/idea/decision. What did you do about it?
This has happened in almost every team-based activity. Disagreements do happen. So there are 2 ways which I always take in every such situation. Firstly, I try to check if it's a fact-based decision and if it is, then I try to validate the fact from a reliable source. But if it's a subjective decision to be taken, then I try to have a discussion on both sides and the decision to be taken on the basis of consensus.
What is the one thing you can claim to have some level of expertise or depth of knowledge in - it could be anything - a subject, a sport, a hobby, a venture, an initiative that has led you to do deep work in that field?
Public Speaking
If 10 Million Dollars (approximately INR 75 Crores) is given to you to use it any way you deem fit what would you do with this corpus?
INR 50 Crore - Startup (The Commu - An organization which conducts prestigious Communication related competitions, gives communication related trainings, collaborates with schools, etc.)INR 7.97 Crore - Investment in Tata sharesINR 7.3 Crore- DonationsINR 3 Crore - Sister's educationINR 1 Crore - HouseINR 1 Crore - Investment in father's businessINR 1 Crore - Gift to fatherINR 1 Crore - Gift to motherINR 1 Crore - Gift to sisterINR 15 Lakh - Car for familyINR 5 Lakh - Family tripINR 2 Lakh - Bike for selfINR 1 Lakh - Sooty for sister