I have always been an average, sometimes a below average student academically. I never gave much importance to studies. But I always had big dreams, in fact I still do.
Machines have always fascinated me; engines excite me. I knew I wanted to be an engineer as early as in the 4th standard. By the time I was in the 6th standard, I knew I wanted to be a Mechanical Engineer. From a very early age I was interested in model making. Dismantling any device I could lay my hands on even ripping open all the toys I was given. Every time my parents went out of the house, I tried dismantling something or the other but made sure it was put back together, before my parents stepped in. By the time I was in the 10th standard I had opened everything, from watches, clocks, and fans to things like the TV, refrigerator, washing machine, every single thing we had in our house.
I did my schooling in LOYOLA, Jamshedpur. The first morning assembly of the 7th standard, a guy goes on to the stage and announces that he is the ‘Physics and Electronics Club’ president… students interested in joining the club can appear for a test, the following day. Next called on to the stage were a group of students who had recently gone out of station to take part in a science competition.
I was awe-inspired to see so many talents.
There are many intra as well as inter school events which take place at our school. Whenever I got the chance to attend any such event, I used to stay back after the event and observe the so called ‘computer guys’, the guys who actually made things possible, the organizing crew. I always thought these were the guys who had an edge over the others. I was deeply inspired by such people.
Since then it became my dream to be the president of the Physics and Electronics club. I wanted to represent my school at science competitions. I wanted to be one of the computer guys too.
Soon, by the end of 7th standard I had gained enough approval by the teachers, they even knew my name, because of models I used to make and things I used to do, one out of many being, integrating a camera flash inside a small jewelry box which when open would blind you. I had done it to all my teachers. By the time I was in the 8th standard, I had already started to handle computers or at least set them up for quizzes and others events. Soon there was a time when I was being called for help with computers before every event. My small dreams had started to materialize and soon I was a prominent member of the so called ‘computer guys’.
One ordinary day, I got a note saying that the principal wanted to see me. He told me about a model making competition coming up which was to be held at IIT Kanpur that year. The event coincided with our final exams, but I couldn’t believe my ears when the principal said that I was exempted from taking the tests and he wanted me to represent our school at the IIT. Besides all this the school was ready to sponsor me and also give me a room to work in. I also was free to choose my team mates.
Since then whenever there was a competition I became a default member of the group, the school wanted to send. It was all dreamlike but real.
Later, after all this I also became the president of the ‘Physics and Electronics Club’.
There was one more thing I wanted or rather dreamt of… I had never been awarded anything after the 4th standard’s ‘Achievement Award’. I was never a part of the annual ‘Prize Night’ hence forth till the last year of my school.
Technically, even that night I was not present for the annual prize night but I had my name listed for one of the awards. I was away for engineering entrance exams so I couldn’t make it. But I remember my mother narrating the course of the night.
My parents and my younger brother had gone to attend the award ceremony. While entering, my brother asked my mother, “whose going to take away that one?” while pointing at the biggest trophy which was placed at the top rack amongst the other shields, cups and trophies. To which my mother replied, “You’ll have to wait to find out”.
Soon my name was called out, I was awarded the ‘Principal’s Award’ for being the president of the club. The event proceeded. My brother had grown very curious and restless because the ‘Big Trophy’ was not announced till the end.
It was finally time for it to be given away, after a short introductory speech about the trophy, two names were called out. The award was shared between two of them. My family was awe-struck when they heard one of the names was mine. My brother, little did he know, was going back home with the trophy.
All my Dreams were now Realities.
When I look back, I see, it’s been a bumpy ride with many mile stones on the way. But I’m sure I’ve learnt something, to achieve big you need to Dream Big… and you never know, what’s in store for you.
So never give up and DREAM BIG.
-Atul
