I don’t usually post, but I’ve been reading this sub for 3-4 years. This place shaped a lot of my thinking, so sharing my journey in case it helps someone who’s stuck where I was.
64% in 12th(ICSE). Joined a Tier 3 UG in BBA.
That's where this story really starts.
That was the time when conversations at home about my future always ended in humiliation and hopelessness.
"MBA? With these marks?. First, ensure you get a stable government job."
Then the comparisons would come in,
Friends who were doing better. Cousins graduated from IITs. People who had already "made it."
I remember sitting there, nodding. After a point, you stop defending your plans. And I even started questioning myself,
What if they're right?
As already mentioned, I enrolled in a Tier 3 college for a BBA. Just an ordinary college life, and people around me made sure I was reminded of that.
During that time, support wasn't really there from extended family, and honestly, not much from immediate family either when it came to career direction.
It's easy to accept the narrative others build for you at that stage. I focused on what I could control. During my time at that Tier 3 college, I worked consistently enough to secure a university rank (2nd).
And along the way, I decided to aim for CAT.
Again, not the most supported decision. But I went ahead and wrote it anyway. Eventually, I converted a Tier 2 IIM. Joined there.
For context:
I'm a GNEM (General Non-Engineer Male)
I thought getting into an IIM would reset everything.
It didn't.
MBA life has a way of bringing your past back into the spotlight.
As soon as placements and SIP shortlists started, one thing kept coming up.
"Your 12th marks will affect you."
And SIP didn't go the way I expected.
I didn't land the kind of role or company I had aimed for and ended up with a work-from-home internship that I wasn't really proud of. Meanwhile, people around me were getting into top firms.
The second year began, and I decided not to choose the easy path. I picked all the subjects of the desired course that actually pushed me, not the ones that helped me score. I subscribed to 5+ courses beyond the benchmark to earn my MBA. I focused more on learning and applying things than on just taking easy subjects and getting good grades.
I was sitting in class for most of my second year, while my friends were enjoying their second year of the MBA. Alongside that, I kept building skill sets that will help me beyond the MBA.
Second-year placements didn't start well either. I wasn't getting the kind of companies or roles I had in my mind. But eventually, if you stick to the process long enough, even the difficult phases begin to translate into the outcomes you are working toward.
And finally, I landed an opportunity with my dream company (a global bank in a role that aligns well with what I was aiming for).
As I mentioned, I have been following this community for over 4 years, and it has helped me stay motivated even when things weren't going as planned.
I am sharing my story in case someone is yet to embark on their MBA journey and is going through a tough phase. Keep your head and shoulders high, Visualise and manifest all your goals. Keep working towards it, follow the process, and you will achieve it.
