CAT To IIM Nagpur: Conquering With A Full-Time Job, Ball By Ball

Finally, the dedication I poured into my CAT preparation eventually paid off. Securing admission into IIM Nagpur marked the realization of a dream. I still remember the moment I reached the campus, with my parents standing by my side, and it made every night that I studied despite being too exhausted; all the social gatherings I missed, and all the personal battles I fought were worth it. However, as they say, getting admission into a B-school is just the beginning of a long journey. It's like you have reached the base camp of Mount Everest, and you're yet to scale a whole mountain to reach the top. As I stepped onto the campus of IIM Nagpur, the dreamlike feeling was accompanied by the realization that the MBA journey ahead would be nothing short of challenging. Confident in my abilities, I couldn't help but feel a sense of skepticism about whether I would adapt to the rigors of the challenging first year of MBA. Once again, the cricket-inspired mantra, "go ball by ball"; came to my rescue. Focusing on the task at hand and taking things one step at a time, I immersed myself in the challenges of the MBA curriculum.

As I reflect on my journey to IIM Nagpur, I am reminded that success often lies in the ability to navigate challenges with a focused and resilient mindset. Whether facing personal loss, demanding professional commitments, or the rigors of an MBA program, the key is to take
each moment as it comes—going ball by ball, task by task. In doing so, I not only secured
admission to a prestigious institution but also gained a valuable life lesson that extends
beyond the realm of academia.

Hrithik is a PGP1 student at IIM Nagpur and an executive member of the Corporate Relations & Placement Committee. He worked as a Big Data Developer in a multinational IT company for 22 months before joining IIM Nagpur. In his free time, he loves to travel and watch cricket.