Time Management is the key to success: Chaitanya Jarugula

During my high school, problems and realistic topics in Physics attracted me a lot. As a result, I decided to choose science as my course of study in class XI and class XII.

Even after qualifying my state Engineering entrance examination with a rank of 8875, few questions remained in my mind- Which course should I opt for?  Which college should I apply to?

Similar to other students, I was dependent on the internet to surf the top colleges in my state to apply to. Unexpectedly, the results were not same on all the websites, which landed me in a dilemma. Later, I took help of my brother who was pursuing BTech in the stream of Mechanical at that time, and met people of different colleges in his circle and personally took feedback of the colleges. Some gave positive, some negative, and some confused me with their mixed feedback. After collecting feedbacks, I decided to opt for Vardhaman College of Engineering, in which electronic labs are well-established to meet the industry needs (as per the feedbacks). As Robotics used to attract me a lot since childhood, without a second thought I opted for Electronics field, though my parents and relatives insisted on me choosing Computer Science.

Journey To Vardhaman:

I qualified Telangana state-level entrance test. I have done my intermediate (class XI and XII) from a reputed junior college near my home. I topped my class in XI but in XII, I got addicted to mobile gaming. As a result, my grades got degraded, and simultaneously my confidence too. I attempted Joint Entrance examination (JEE) in 2016 and failed to qualify. I was depressed after checking my results and later, with the help of my parents I had to get rid of mobile games addiction by staying away from the phone, etc. A month later, I attempted SRM University’s entrance examination and qualified it. But I wanted to stay with my parents, and so, I didn’t go for that university. After saying goodbye to mobile gaming, I became determined and set a pinpoint goal to get admission in one of the top 10 colleges in my state. I had a week’s time only. I wrote nearly 50 mock tests conducted by various websites, which boosted my confidence.

Divide the syllabus into chunks, pick your favorite chunks and important topics which were most frequently asked in previous examinations, and give them the highest priority. I would also recommend you to attempt as many mock tests as possible to estimate your calibre and improve your average score. It also plays a paramount role in developing your time management ability. After all, entrance tests depend on managing your time! Selecting the best college is the first step to success since its environment matters a lot. 

The whole knowledge lies with your college library, labs, and definitely, faculty members. Make sure you maintain a good relationship with all of the above.

My Experiences

After joining college, I was excited to see the laboratories in the electronics department, for which I needed to wait till the 2^nd year, since most part of the 1^st year is similar to class XI and XII. My college was very particular about students’ discipline, which plays a huge role in shaping the future of the nation. My college life is a kind of commercial movie for me which is packed with everything. Despite indulging myself in various organizational activities, I used to dedicate time for my studies, unlike I did in class XI and XII. Being an electronics stream student is what I dreamt of. 

A person always makes mistakes, but making success out of those mistakes is his duty. Along the way, I got addicted to mobile games, movies and concentrated less on studies. And when I realized that one great opportunity (JEE) was lost from my hands, I decided to say goodbye to all enjoyments and put my heart and soul in studies. Now I am studying my dream course (electronics) in one of the top 10 colleges of my state. The solution which I came up with, to solve this problem was to manage time rather than avoiding things completely. Today, I am able to manage time for both education and gaming accordingly. Sounds good, right?

My college is playing a vital role in shaping my career. My faculty members are most helpful. The competitive spirit in my class is really healthy, which has its own iterative role in making us concentrate on studies. The best aspect about my college is its decision to provide industry-required education apart from the conventional education. Things which we learn in our college will never be taught by the outside world. Industry requirements change drastically in this automated world. Grasping industry needs and functioning accordingly isn’t an easy task. I am very thankful to my college for this. Laboratories in my college are excellently equipped, which is helping me a lot in learning things practically and observing the results in real time. Even the library is loaded heavily with tons of knowledge. Books of many authors are readily available for students.

My suggestion on career selection to all future aspirants is to ‘manage time’, which worked for me like a charm. Indulge yourself in various physical activities. At the same time, give high priority to your education. In this world, nothing can match the power of education. Being an aspirant, it’s our responsibility to learn and teach. Always try to learn new things, keep yourself updated with technology; introduce everything you observe to your mind, and give your mind and heart the freedom to select your passion. Try to grab opportunities and don’t hide yourself. Try to perform the hardest task – if you succeed, you will be happy and if you fail, you will learn.

About the Author

I am Chaitanya Jarugula pursuing Bachelor of Technology from Vardhaman College of Engineering. I did my Intermediate from Sri Chaitanya Junior College (2014-2016) and did SSC from Castle Town High School (2014). My hobbies include learning about new technologies, watching sports, etc.

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