How my college helped me regain my lost hope: Tanuj Namboodri

When I was in the 2^nd/3^rd grade, I usually went to my dad’s garage and simply stared at the vehicles. Every time I went there with my Dad, I used to observe the workers and watch them do things like open the gearbox or grease the suspension part.

At home, I learned many things about electricity like how to make an electrical board, how to repair the fuse and gained knowledge about certain things -  like the information that capacitor stores energy. At that time, I was dealing with practical knowledge and my father was good with mechanical, electronics and electrical knowledge. I was very interested and my father taught me everything.

I was not good at studies and I did not like books. I never opened a book at home but if you would have asked me to open an electricity board, I would have been ready for it.

Then looking at my interest in studies, my parents shifted me to a boarding school at Nainital. Eventually I started to learn about Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Mathematics was my one of least favorite subjects. It was a very strict school. Cell phones and listening to songs was not allowed. We kept MP3 players with us and it required charging in 2 days. I was the one who was responsible for charging everyone’s MP3 player. There were two reasons for this – 1. I never hesitated to experiment with electricity wires. 2. No one used to check upon me. I used to charge everyone’s MP3 player by an innovative hack which involved the cutting of an electrical wire to create a charging point.

When I was in the 10^th standard, I was very good at science. I dreamt everyday of becoming a scientist. I wanted to work in the field of electrical and mechanical both, because I thought I was good at it.

Then my cousin brother decided for me that I should go to Kota for studying after Class 10^th. I went there but I did not have any idea about IIT. I had no idea why I was studying there. In Kota, the environment was very competitive and I was afraid of it. Every day I came back to my room depressed. Every morning I used to wake up with excitement and after coming back from class, I was depressed. It went on like this for a year. 

When I had decided to go to Kota, I thought it would be a life-changing moment. I assumed I would work freely on things using my practical knowledge but I never thought it would be like this – me getting depressed every day. There was no time for myself in this race. I lost my hope. I thought I would not be able to do anything in life.

After that I achieved a low percentage in Board exam, I got low marks in JEE Mains and I was sure that I would not get admission anywhere. Then I heard about COER (College of Engineering, Roorkee) and researched about it. I searched about the college life and everyone told me that it was a good college. I queried about the college fee as I didn’t want to spend extra money of my father because I has already spent enough money and had achieved nothing. Then a situation arrived of selecting the branch and I was confused between mechanical and electrical. I thought about this and realized that opting mechanical would make me happy, hence I went for it.

Then I came to COER. There was another reason for choosing this college and that was my low percentage. No one was giving me mechanical branch because of my low marks. However, COER gave me this option and it made me very happy.

I gave many entrance tests of colleges’ like-  VIT, BITS, KIIT, Manipal, SRM and many others. I don’t even remember them now. I got admission in many colleges but they were too expensive for me. I did not want to die with guilt so I did not choose these colleges.

I think the best way to prepare for an entrance test is to study on your own. You can take help of your seniors, make your basics strong, and study by enjoying it. The best tip for getting a college is that you have to select a college in which you want to get into.  My biggest mistake was I that I never dreamed of any college or college life. So search the internet and choose the best option you get.

After coming to College of Engineering, Roorkee; I got all my lost hopes back. I started dreaming again and doing things that I liked. I started to experience new things, joined clubs in college and started gaining knowledge. The 1^st year is for experiencing everything, having fun in the college and the 2^nd year is for choosing the particular thing that will help you in future and also to enjoy the college life.

This is how my college life has been going. I am happy with my chosen course and will get back to you soon after experiencing more things.

About the Author:

My name is Tanuj Namboodri and I am student of College of Engineering – Roorkee. I am currently pursuing my BTech in Mechanical Engineering.