Mystory@Swathi Pulikurthi: How I chose my course and career path

Yes, deciding what stream to choose after class X was a bit difficult. Not boasting but I was a topper in my SSC examinations and had the same kind of interest in all subjects and as the time came for me to join Intermediate course, I found it typical having to choose the subject. I was confused between sticking to BI-PC or MPC. Later I realised I will be more satisfied when I am logically driven and decided to choose MPC.

Secondly, many colleges came offering me a seat even before I got the result. But I have straight away rejected the offers as I felt that it is not fair committing to something before you are not aware of the future. Later, after getting the result, I investigated about few colleges and decided that the two years play a major role and are the first step to hit the throne of success. Hence, I chose one such college for my Intermediate. My engineering college was chosen based on which colleges give opportunities for career development. Candidly speaking, I received good education in Intermediate and in my engineering course.

How I cracked college admission

I have written EAMCET entrance exam to get seat in engineering college. All that I prepared for the exam is studying in my own Intermediate college and have not been to any coaching centres. I have prepared well for it in the time gap after Inter exams. Happily, I got a seat in Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology, Hyderabad.

In my BTech final year I have done my home preparation for the placements. Simultaneously, I have tried in off-campus placements as well – and in one such off-campus visit approximately among 1000 candidates who attended the initial round I was among the top ten who got selected up to the last round. But unfortunately, I missed it in the last round. That was the day on which I was so confident about my talent, and my personality despite getting rejected in the last round. It has given me a confidence that I can do something in my life. In the third company visit to my college I cleared all rounds of interview and got placed. Then later, with the same confidence, I got placed in two more companies.

But I was always in love with the teaching field and dreamt about me as a lecturer in college, because I believe that life is not about how many days you have lived but it is about how much life you have lived in all these days. I get more pleasure when I share my knowledge with someone and that’s possible by teaching. Thus, I prepared for one month only at home for the GATE – all India entrance test for doing masters.

I’m pretty sure that coaching classes might help but my past performance due to commitment and dedication has compelled me not to approach any coaching. Eventually, to my happiness, I have cracked GATE exam in my first attempt getting 5900 all India Rank.

What I gained from my college experience and campus placement

My college life was challenging. In fact, I was not so open to mingle with my friends. I faced issues like not opening up myself, sharing opinions and suffered from stage fear. Later, I learnt what is this world, the things around me and then understood that I have to make myself strong to survive in this illusion of a world, the so-called reality. Then I started raising my voice only with an aim not to be at the back but to lead the things.

After getting a good score in GATE, I was in a deep state of confusion to choose between the job I had got in placement and pursuing MTech to fulfil my dream. I approached many of my lecturers, my parents, friends and all beloved ones. After a deep brain storming, I felt that since I have got my first job, It’s not fair on my part to neglect it. However, I did not ignore my dream because at the end of the day it matters a lot to me and as the rank has got 3 years validity I have decided to pursue my MTech after completing 2years working in the company so that I can justify both sides by not sacrificing any of the paths.

My first Job is like learning different technologies and getting trained in the same. I was very particular about my career path and so got scared to waste my time and not much in having fun. I feel this is the only reason I have got the developer role offered by my manager in the Project right in the first year soon after training.

It is a great journey, everyday confronting a different issue, it is a place where I have grown technically, professionally, and personally. I have come across people of different personalities and my experience has helped me in handling situations quite well. Throughout I have faced challenges and the subjects learnt in my college life supported me and there were incidents where I also guided my seniors in solving logics technically.

The mistakes I have committed are mostly related to me being sensitive. One such case is when I didn’t get placed in the first two companies in HR round and I was rejected for being very lean/thin. This had a great impact on me. I lost my senses and broke into tears.

But one night when I was continuously crying beside my father, he quoted that “It is just the beginning and if not this definitely something better would be waiting for you. But keep learning from failures “and he consoled me. These words of him strengthened me and I worked hard to overcome the areas where I failed and succeeded in doing that. And that day when I got placed in the third company I was so happy that my talent, my hard work has gained much more importance than my physique.

Friends, these aren’t my tips but the things that I believed and which helped me in being happy and I hope these will guide you as well.

• Never degrade yourself. It is not about your physique or how you look but it is about your ability to accomplish something.
• Raise your voice if you have not done anything wrong.
• One most important thing I feel is – being committed in your action. It helps you to complete things within time professionally) and helps you build your character (personally). Design short-term goals on a regular basis as you grow – achieving these will indirectly guide you in hitting your long-term goal and fill life with pleasure.

“Raise every day with a new hope, Put 100% effort in whatever action you perform, Be committed, Believe in yourself, Never lose hope and Don’t ever give up.”

And I am sure you will welcome many happier events in your life. All the best.  

About the Author:

Hi friends. I am Swathi. I have done Engineering in Computer Science and currently working for CSC Pvt. Ltd as Associate Professional in developer role. My hobbies include reading epic novels, and playing chess. I strongly believe in my efforts and commitment that helped me in leading my life with confidence.