Some journeys aren't about talent or shortcuts — they’re about showing up every day, despite everything telling you to stop.
Mine begins in a small village in Haryana and winds through government schools, farm work, failed exams, corporate cubicles, and long cab rides — all leading up to a single moment: an admission offer from IIM Lucknow.
Village Life & Early Struggles
I was born in a small village in the Panipat district of Haryana, surrounded by fields and simplicity. Most families, including mine, were connected to farming. My childhood was modest — not in ambition, but in access.
I studied in five different schools throughout my early education. Some closed down, others lacked infrastructure — but all shaped my adaptability. One school abruptly shut down after the owner passed away. Another didn’t have enough benches; we often sat on cement bags or under trees.
In Class 6, I cracked the entrance for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya — a prestigious government-run boarding school. It was a huge leap for me: my first time away from home, in an English-medium environment, and a tightly regimented hostel life. Cold-water baths, long queues for 5-minute phone calls home, and rigorous study hours became part of life.
But I was just a child. After a year, due to health issues, I had to return home — a tough but necessary decision.
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Resilience in Government School Walls
I joined a government school close to my home from Class 7 to 10. The school lacked even basic amenities — potholes on classroom floors, broken fans, missing benches. But what it lacked in infrastructure, it made up for in grit.
One of the most inspiring people I met there was our visually impaired Social Science teacher. His lectures were deeply engaging, and his presence showed us that limitations don’t define impact.
My classmates were sons and daughters of daily wage earners, security guards, and auto drivers. Many worked jobs after school. Being part of this environment gave me perspective — and made me fiercely value every opportunity that came my way.
An incident in Class 10 involving student violence led to my parents shifting me to a better school for Classes 11 and 12.
Engineering Dreams, Detours & Discovery
In Class 11, I took Science (PCM) aiming for engineering. I enrolled in coaching classes and prepared seriously for JEE. Initially, the new school was a cultural shock — expensive watches, fancy birthday parties, bikes in the parking lot — a world far from mine.
But academics helped bridge the gap. Slowly, I made friends, and teachers began to notice me. I covered the JEE syllabus multiple times and was confident. Yet, when results came, I couldn’t get a top rank. I took a drop year, tried again, cleared JEE Advanced — but with a rank that wouldn't fetch me an IIT seat.
That’s when I discovered NIFTEM — an Institute of National Importance offering a B.Tech in Food Technology and Management. It perfectly merged my agricultural roots and growing interest in the food industry.
Life at NIFTEM: Growth Beyond Academics
At NIFTEM, I found a space where I could finally grow both technically and personally.
I was elected Class Representative, joined the Sports Society, and volunteered with MANAVTA, an NGO teaching underprivileged children near our campus. I also participated in the Village Adoption Program (VAP), where we worked at the grassroots level, promoting food processing and rural entrepreneurship.
These experiences taught me leadership, empathy, and a desire to drive impact — and nudged me toward preparing for UPSC after graduation.
UPSC: Two Years, One Dream, Many Lessons
After graduating, I returned home and began preparing for UPSC Civil Services. For two years, I followed a strict routine: lectures, answer writing, newspapers, revisions. But despite the effort, I couldn’t crack the exam.
Those two years taught me discipline and awareness, but also humbled me. I had to face failure, realign, and rediscover what I wanted.
PepsiCo: Rebuilding Confidence
In 2022, I joined PepsiCo R&D, where I worked with stakeholders across geographic regions on ingredient specifications and compliance. Within months, I was working on critical projects, including one involving the integration of acquired products into global systems.
At PepsiCo, I was awarded twice by PepsiCo’s Global Chief Science Officer — recognition that helped me rebuild the confidence I had lost during my UPSC phase.
CAT 2023: A Hard Fall
I took CAT 2023 with high hopes. But on exam day, DILR tripped me up. I spent 12 minutes stuck on one set, panicked, and couldn’t recover. I attempted only 5-6 questions. My final score: 93.73 percentile.
It was a punch to the gut. I took sometime to process the disappointment — then got back to work.
CAT 2024: No Holding Back
In May 2024, I began again. I enrolled in online coaching to stay consistent, took mock tests twice a week, tracked every error, worked on DILR strategy, and strengthened my weaknesses.
As a full-time working professional, time was limited. I studied during cab rides, lunch breaks, evenings, and weekends. I skipped social events, avoided distractions, and only went home for two days during Diwali.
This time, it worked. I scored 98.79 percentile in CAT and 99.7694 percentile in XAT.
Interview Season: Final Converts
I received calls from:
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Mumbai, CAP, IIM Raipur, IIM Amritsar, IIM Visakhapatnam, MDI, TISS, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIFT, and XLRI Jamshedpur
I prepared rigorously — mock interviews, feedback sessions, structured answers. In the end, I converted several top B-schools, including both IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow.
I’ve chosen to join IIM Lucknow, where I hope to blend purpose with business, and passion with impact.
Final Thoughts
My story is not about one big moment. It’s about a series of small choices, quiet sacrifices, and constant reinvention.
I’ve lived a diverse life — from washing clothes in hostels to navigating global supply systems, from teaching rural kids to collaborating with international stakeholders. And through it all, I’ve learned that resilience beats talent, and consistency trumps genius.
If you're someone who’s stumbled — in CAT, JEE, UPSC, or life — know this:
You’re allowed to fall. Just don’t forget to rise again.
