Chasing impact through purpose,
turning visions into reality—the bold way.

In grade 1, I wasn’t good at anything. Academics bored me, and no matter how hard I tried, my marks never seemed to improve—if anything, they got worse over the years. Outside of school, my parents enrolled me in everything imaginable: drawing, swimming, skating, table tennis, tennis, and countless other activities. Being a Jain, I also had to spend hours at the temple, memorizing and reciting verses until grade 8. Yet, despite all this, I was short, slightly overweight, introverted, and had only a small circle of friends.

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Just before grade 8, the world shut down. COVID-19 came with an announcement that schools would close for 30 days—but those 30 days stretched into nearly three years. At first, I was thrilled, but eventually I realized I had an opportunity to change. I decided to work on my body and on myself. Tennis, which was once just another activity, became my passion and my goal. I trained 3–4 hours a day, building fitness alongside it. My physique transformed, my confidence grew, and for the first time, I saw what discipline could do.

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But when schools reopened, reality struck. My academics hit rock bottom—I scored only 45% in grade 9. I cut back on tennis in grade 10, determined to do better. Instead, I was placed in what felt like the “worst” class ever, with barely one or two friends. Ironically, it turned out to be the best year of my life. I found my closest friends, laughed endlessly despite scoldings, and created memories that still shine. And even with all the distractions, I managed to score 85%—an achievement for someone who had never been anywhere but the bottom of the class.

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After that, my best friends left to pursue Science, while I chose Commerce. For the first time, I loved what I was learning. From being stuck near the bottom year after year, I suddenly found myself among the top 10 in the class. Grade 11 brought opportunities, creativity, and leadership. I recovered from the bad impression I had left in grade 10, when I was caught sneaking in a phone, and instead started rebuilding my reputation.

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By grade 12, I had one clear goal: to win “Student of the Year.” I stayed disciplined, studied consistently, and scored 93%—even higher than the toppers of grade 10. I came second, but I didn’t win the award. At first, it stung. But soon, I realized those who won deserved it more, and I felt genuinely happy for them. What mattered was that I had finally proven to myself that I could turn things around.

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Then came the biggest leap of my life: college. I was accepted into some of the world’s top institutions—UC San Diego, UMass Amherst, Indiana Bloomington, Penn State, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, UNSW, NUS Singapore, Christ, and AU in India. But instead of choosing a conventional path, I took a risk. I decided to join TETR College of Business, a unique program where I will build seven businesses in seven different countries, moving to a new place each term.

 

When I told people about my choice, I faced backlash. Some said it was a scam. Others said it was just a “party school.” Many told me it was too risky. But I realized something important: if I always play safe in life, then what is the point of living? This is the biggest decision of my life so far, and I am proud that I chose to gamble on myself, on risk, and on growth.