I was quite academically sound in school, having received academic Incentive prize for 11 consecutive years. I slogged hard to get admitted into the prestigious NIT Nagpur eventually. However, during my 1st year of engineering, I became complacent, and all my excellence turned into mediocrity. I was losing confidence in myself. That was quickly reflected in my drastic drop in grades. But I realised that mediocrity and complacency are the most substantial challenges in my pursuit of excellence. I regained my interest in quizzing, prepared hard and went on to win multiple national level quizzing competitions by the time I completed my engineering. The primary lesson I learnt is that complacency always breeds mediocrity and steals one’s potential. To stay away from it, HUSTLE!
I faced a series of challenges where I had to make crucial career decisions. Post-engineering, within a year of working in my dream job, I realised that my learning curve had stagnated and there wasn’t further value addition in terms of skills or knowledge. Thus, I resigned. I wanted to pursue an MBA as it would help me gain an understanding of various aspects of business management. I faced numerous setbacks on most fronts. I encountered serious health issues, internal family issues, peer pressure, a streak of misfortunes at MBA entrance and unsuccessful attempts at obtaining a B-school admit. The struggle I went through those days is the strength I possess today. The real power lies in changing the way you respond to the happenings around when you have no control over them. “O wind, when winter comes, can spring be far behind?”
A few months later, I am writing this article as an MBA student from one of the prestigious B-schools in the country!
Excellence has always been achieved by those who dared to believe that something inside them is superior to their circumstances.
