From Dreaming of Medicine to Crafting Success: Overcoming Obstacles and Embracing New Passions
In the realm of education, the road to becoming a doctor is a challenging one, filled with rigorous requirements, fierce competition, and the need for unwavering determination. Yet, it is not the only path to a fulfilling life, as many individuals, despite not achieving their initial aspirations, find success and happiness in other areas.
Challenges and Realities
I completed 14 years of education to become a neurosurgeon, and through that journey, I learned that merely having a strong will is not enough. Success in the medical field demands an above-average IQ, a daunting amount of information to memorize, and an unyielding determination. Added to these, the long and grueling training period, typically spanning over a decade, requires substantial family support in terms of encouragement and financial assistance. Additionally, a strong basic education prior to joining medical school is crucial, as many students struggle to adapt from regional languages to the English used in medical education.
Moreover, a certain degree of good luck and the right opportunities to practice what is learned are necessary. For many, obtaining all of these remains a formidable challenge. Consequently, choosing a career path based on the realistic options available, rather than simply relying on blind willpower, is a wise decision.
Navigating Through Alternative Paths
Though I may not be overly boasting, I have indeed achieved a significant degree of success. My journey started with a passion for biology, nurtured throughout childhood, and a deep desire to become a doctor. However, my dream path was not without its setbacks. Despite being a reasonably good student, I failed to clear my first attempt at the AIPMT (All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Examination) and did not consider other options like engineering as a backup plan. My brother, who was preparing for medical entrance exams, also fell short during this period, leading my family and me to believe that clearing the medical entrance was exceptionally challenging.
Ultimately, I chose to pursue a degree in engineering from JSSATE, despite feeling that it was not a traditional backup plan for medical school. However, the next year, a significant number of my close friends from class 12th cleared medical entrance exams and joined medical colleges, while I was still studying computer science in a college that was relatively unknown. This period was filled with regret and self-doubt.
Embracing Programming and Professional Success
Unbeknownst to me during that time, leaning towards engineering opened doors for me in the corporate world. During the fourth year of my engineering studies, placement offers began to pour in, and I received offers from TCS, Tech Mahindra, and Cognizant. I joined TCS, and despite topping the internal training program (ILP training), I was deployed in a night shift production support job. This situation prompted me to resume my studies and attempt the McAfee (now Intel Security) exam. Indeed, my passion for programming and dedication to studying paid off, leading to my selection and subsequent employment at McAfee in May 2011.
My professional journey continued with a series of entrepreneurial efforts. Throughout my career, I created several websites that gained popularity among job seekers, including platforms for government jobs preparation. Although my primary dream was to become a doctor and affect lives in that capacity, I continued to impact people's lives through my creations and subsequent ventures.
Scaling New Heights with Passion
In 2016, I embarked on a new path by starting my own company with friends from IITs and VIT Vellore. Our company focuses on creating Learning Management Systems with social networking features for large educational institutions. Some of the well-known institutes in the Civil Services Preparation field are among our clients, and we have been achieving impressive success in running the business.
One of the key lessons I've learned in my journey is that sometimes we may not achieve our first dreams, but that doesn't mean we can't find happiness and success in other endeavors. If we are good at one thing, it is easy to become skilled in something else, one we just have to find the passion for it. This realization is much like losing your first love, but finding someone you can love a little more. While you may still miss your first love, it doesn't mean you can't find happiness in your current path.