‘Each person’s life is dominated by a central event, which shapes and distorts everything that comes

after it, and, in retrospect, everything that came before.’ For me, the life changing event happened in
my second year of Engineering. I was on route with my mother to pick up my elder sister from the
Mumbai Airport when we met with an car accident on Pune-Mumbai Express Highway. Our car toppled
couple of times before me and mother were found unconscious by fellow travellers. I gained conscious
immediately after the accident, but my mother was suffering from some critical injuries. This incident
had a huge impact to me and I was practically in shock for some time post accident.

My final exam for second year first semester was around this time. Barely recovered from shock, I wrote
my exams and to add to my misery, I had failed in 4 subjects out of 5. That was lowest point of my life as
on one hand I was still considering myself guilty for my mother’s injuries and on other I had failed first
time in my life. The thought of repeating the year started to linger in my mind as anybody familiar with
mechanical engineering syllabus will agree that attempting 9 subjects in a semester and clearing at least
6 subjects to keep the year is a daunting task. Not only my professors but also my parents had accepted
the fact that I will be repeating the year.

Watching me struggling with the situation, my father sat me down and explained me the importance of
looking at the problems practically and objectively. Getting influenced by his simple words of wisdom, I
decided to face this problem methodically. I knew I had to pass in 6 subjects to avoid failure. Identifying
applications-based subjects as my strength, I picked 6 subjects with most application-based concepts in
them. Out of 60 days of total preparation time, I allotted more than 70% time to these 6 subjects and
rest for remaining 3 subjects. Being aware of extended studying hours ahead, I modified my diet and
exercise routine accordingly. With structured and directed studies for two months, I was ready to
appear for longest exam of my life.

Results were out within a month and to everyone’s surprise, I had passed in 8 out of 9 subjects with
good marks. I was proud of myself. This incident raised my confidence level to new highs. It taught me
value of looking at a problem with focused, streamlined and practical approach. It also taught me very
important lesson of self-belief.

The impact of this incident was so predominant that it even carried with me when I started my journey
in Canada. There were many instances in my student life while studying in Concordia and in my
professional life in Grundfos when I faced my problems with a structured and focussed approach to
arrive at a logical solution.