April had just begun and the sky wore a rare outfit of dense clouds. I sat besides the window with a storm stirring inside me, complimenting the weather outside. My graduation results were due anytime now. I’d never been this nervous about results, but this time it was special. I’d been promised a bike provided I ace the exams. After 3 minutes of wait which felt nothing short of a lifetime, I received a notification. The results were out and I’d fared reasonably well. I leapt in joy and informed my dad about the same as I grew impatient by every passing second for the bike.
15th April had arrived, the date of my bike delivery. I rushed to the showroom and got my insurance done by Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers Limited. The process was absolutely seamless and the executive could sense my impatience. He took care of the formalities in a jiffy and off I rode.
The celebration didn’t end there. It was time for the most prestigious, awaited and glamorous party of the year in our college, Farewell. It was a black tie event. I rushed to Peter England and was taken aback by the array of options they had for me. The folks there helped me put on a pair that fit me perfectly. Ready to rock the event I left content from Peter England with everything I needed. The farewell part was an absolute hit with many of us seeing each other for the last time. I got back with me tons of memories and compliments for the tuxedo I wore.
Out of graduation, into the competitive world, 2017 was about to change the course of my life in the most unexpected way. My friend spoke to me about her plans of doing an MBA. A post grad was never a part of my plan. I was an advertising professional back then and wanted to make a career in it. She forced me to attend the orientation program with her. 10 minutes into the program, I was convinced about doing an MBA. I enrolled with the course, just as a back-up, in case things went south. I attempted the CAT with minimal preparation that year and performed miserably. I decided to give it one more serious shot just to gauge my strength and willpower. I continued working till 3 months before the CAT and post that spent most part of the day attempting mock exams. After a year long of rigour, CAT again was a horror story for me. I collected myself together and sat for IIFT’s entrance test a week later, an exam I least expected myself to clear. Ultimately I did get shortlisted for GDPI.
For the next one month, I invested all my energy in preparing for the GDPI process. On the 12th of February, I walked out of the institute with a smile from ear-to-ear. I had a great feeling about my performance and was expecting a final call from the institute. I did make it through to one of the top 10 b-schools of India, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. I always thought of myself as an average student cut out for a tier-2 college. I would’ve been happy on securing a seat in a tier-2 institute in India. But I was wrong. It is true that we set limitations for ourselves and if we truly believe in something, then there’s nothing that can stop us from achieving it. I am going to cherish my 2 years at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi because it’s a place I thought I never deserved. But everything happens for a reason.