It's knowledge, not marks that help you in a job: Ashish Panwar

Swami Rama Himalayan University

7 years ago, in 2011, I was in 10^th standard. At that time, I was not very intelligent. I was not focused on my studies, and board exams were coming up, the pressure of which could be felt easily. I completed all my exams but one exam which I had given didn’t go that well. While waiting for the results I was thinking all the while, “What if I failed?” But I had passed. I had chosen Mathematics along with Physics and Chemistry for my 11^th and 12^th class. That was the time when I realized that education or good marks were important if you wanted a good future. In 12^th, I got 62% from UK state board. I knew that wasn’t a good percentage but I had to do something. I gave the JEE entrance exam because I wanted to be an engineer. The passion for becoming an engineer since childhood was always with me, as I always wanted to know about cars, machines, how they work, what makes them so fast and everything else about machines.

So, coming back to the point. In JEE Main, I was not able to achieve good marks and I didn’t clear the cut-off percentage. Then, the only choice for me was to prepare and crack the exam or to take admission in a private college. I lived near Dehradun and the city was known for being an educational hub; there were many colleges and it was hard to decide which college was the best. Finally, I made a choice and took admission in Shivalik College of Engineering in Selaqui, Dehradun. It was a good experience of living away from my home. You miss your home but it’s a good experience because in that phase, you get to know the people around you. Students came from different places with a diverse culture.

I took admission in BTech in Mechanical Engineering branch. In the 1^st semester, I got 60% but at the beginning of the 2^nd semester, I suffered from Appendicitis, and doctor said that surgery was required. Because of this reason, I hardly attended any classes during that semester. After the surgery and during recovery, I suffered another disorder and for that reason, I had to withdraw from my course because the doctor advised me bedrest. I was at home for 4-5 months.

The next year, admissions started again and I took admission in Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun. This college was near to my house and I took admission in the same BTech programme in Mechanical Engineering. I must recommend everyone to start focusing on the studies from the very beginning. Do give the entire exam because it introduces you to the level you stand on and helps you in growth. Just clear your basics because in exams, all questions are from the basics that you study. Coaching classes, I think, are not a good way if you know yourself well; work hard at home, practice and be passionate about what you want to be, and do not give up whatever the circumstance be. If you have given any exam and you are not able to crack, still you are left with lots of opportunities and you can opt for any college based on what you have achieved in your entrance test.

Now, I will tell you about my college life. It was always fun meeting new people and making new friends. I met freshers and seniors, with a warm welcome from their side. Every year, I scored good marks in semesters and I was awarded a gold medal and certificate from the Hon’ble President of India for achieving the first position in my batch. In my final year, I had a project on solar energy which was “Design and Fabrication of Mini Solar Thermal Power Plant”, which was based on the principle of solar radiation for producing electricity. We used an aluminum anodized sheet in a parabolic disc, a boiler which converted water into steam which was carried further via a copper tube to a turbine. An alternator was connected to the turbine which produced electricity. From this project, I learned a lot about the use and benefit of solar energy and gained knowledge about thermal engineering. Talking about a job, it’s necessary to get a job for survival and I think I will get a job because I want to be an engineer and I am following my dreams. I chose the right career for myself, because in my opinion, lots of students didn’t get the opportunity to opt for the career which they want. The education I got in the college so far helped me in lots of fields. Like I went for SSB in the navy, and technical entry in the army which opened job opportunities. Finally, I would like to tell you to follow your dream, and never give up in any condition. Select your career wisely and enjoy your life because you are going to miss it in the future. For a job, it is not necessary to get a higher percentage. It all depends on what knowledge you have. Marks are like a ticket to get a job. Once you enter the interview room, you are the one who decides what and how you deliver to the interviewer, and on that basis, you get a job.

About the Author:

My name is Ashish Singh Panwar. I am pursuing B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering) from Swami Rama Himalayan University. I like to play cricket and play computer games. I have certificates of designing software i.e. ANSYS and SOLID WORKS.