College time is the best to explore interests: Sourav Sharma

From class 6th onwards, I started studying in a residential school, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya after passing the entrance exam. It is a co-ed institute. I liked Science during school days. Before opting for a stream in class 11th, I gave a psychometric test which was conducted in our school by a private university. The results and my interests were good enough for me to make my final decision. I took non-medical Science in 11th standard. However, after passing high school I was not very sure about what to do. Although I was interested in the field of computers, I didn't choose Computer Science as my 5th subject during my final year of school which, now I think, I should have taken.

How I cracked college admission

After appearing for Board exams, I gave JEE Main, BITSAT, VITEEE and many more engineering examinations. On the basis of my JEE AIR and the quota of ward of Army personnel, I got admission in Army Institute of Technology after taking a drop year.

I think the best way to prepare for these entrance tests is having a tight and fixed schedule and then sticking to it throughout the time. Practice as much as you can. I took coaching for my entrance examination in Kota. In order to clear these entrance tests, your foundation in 11th and 12th class should be strong. Never take any of these two years lightly. Have your basic concepts strong and clear. I am not saying extra coaching classes are necessary; that depends on one's requirements. But study from NCERT books of class 11th and 12th by heart. Sooner or later, you'll recognise the value of it.

My college life

College life is the best part of a student's life. One should enjoy it in a productive manner. I am currently in the third year of my college life. I like to take part in many other activities apart from my academics. I am a part of the street-play and debate team. I also play volleyball. These extra-curricular activities helped me to crack my SSB interview for NDA. I got AIR 247 in NDA 137 course during the 1st year of college. However, I couldn't join NDA due to some personal reasons. College time is the time to explore your interests. It helped me to explore mine too. You should interact with your seniors well in order to get more familiar with the campus and the current industry scenario. I love to interact with my seniors. I can say with full confidence that my college is ragging-free and the seniors are great. The tips and tricks given by seniors are really helping me to deal with professors, pass various subjects and much more. Their experiences have really helped me a lot.

The mistake that I made during my journey is that sometimes I used to cram things in order to secure marks. This can be good for short term but believe me, it's really bad for long term. So, try to understand the concepts rather than mug them up. Believe me, it's worth taking the pain. Looking back at my decision to choose Information Technology, I think I made the correct choice. I don’t regret this decision. The thing that really worked for me to make a proper career choice was knowing my interests. In order to make the correct career selection, you must know your interests. Whether you like the way computers work or how giant the architecture of a place is, it's definitely going to shape your future.

About the Author:

I am Sourav Sharma. I completed my schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya with 93% in my 12th class. I am studying BE Information Technology from Army Institute of Technology. My hobbies include reading self-help books, surfing internet, and playing volleyball.