Mystory@Neeraj Kapil: How I chose my course and made my career

Mystory@Neeraj Kapil

After completing my schooling, I decided to prepare for entrance exams to get into undergraduate course in Bangalore. I took admission in CET coaching for all medical exams since I had PCB subjects in senior secondary. But at the back of my mind, I wasn't prepared for taking up medical as a career. I was looking for a subject of my interest in which I could devote as much as time without getting bugged. 

Even though my parents had big expectations from me to be a doctor or to join the Indian defense Academy, I had something else going on in my mind. I wanted to pick a career based on my potential and skills. The understanding of self is very important at this stage. You can't just run behind the crowd without knowing your interest and your career aspirations. First thing for any student who is serious about taking up a career is to be clear about his or her interest level and why one is choosing a career in that field.  Scoring marks becomes easy when you love the thing you want to pursue. I did apply for all entrance and competitive exams but I also applied for the exam of my interest (BSc. Environmental Science).

It was shocking for my parents that I couldn't clear a single exam of their choice but I secured the 1st rank in my choice of subject in the entrance exam of St. Joseph's College, Bangalore. So you need to make sure what you expect out of yourself. Choices are not made on interest but on facts which only you can evaluate and identify. Run for passion and you will reach your goal.

My quest for education took me to Rajasthan for a post-graduation in Bioinformatics from IASE, Churu. It was then that I discovered my true aptitude and scientific temperament. After completing post-graduation, I went to Bangalore with the aim of enrolling in the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Thereupon, the necessity of gaining fruitful employment descended upon me and I took up a number of jobs in succession, working in various capacities in cities as far flung as Bangalore, Mumbai and Gurgaon. From the laboratories of Science to the glazed boardrooms of the corporate world, my career journey so far has been nothing short of the myriad contours of a rainbow in full splendour.

I still do research on science and few of them are published internationally, even though I did not get enough response after completion of my education. I work as a Human resource professional and I am doing fine but what keeps me alive is my passion for things I love. So make your passion, your skill, your talent – your profession. And you will be like Sachin Tendulkar of your game.

My best wishes for all of you. Have patience. Take time but choose the right career for yourself. Passion is the key to success and gives you motivation and confidence to take up challenges for growth and success.

About the Author:

Neeraj Kapil hails from Ambala, a place renowned for the Punjabi "can-do spirit" and a long association with the Indian Army. His father served in the Armed Forces for a period of thirty-two years, and young Neeraj was raised in the finest traditions of discipline, perseverance and ingenuous thinking.

Neeraj is a research enthusiast and writer who studied in Indian Navy school and then went on to attend St. Joseph's College, Bangalore for a Bachelor's in Environmental Sciences. He has over 11 years of experience as Human Resource professional before he took a sabbatical from Corporate world to work on Automotive Research Project for Automatic CAR Deployment Cover.