Q.

Tell us something about yourself(500 characters)

A. I am one of those Engineers that did B.Tech because I was told to. I landed a job in my own field.Soon
I realized the job to be a misfit and parted ways. 6 months later lockdown happened. The free time I had
given me a lot of clarity. Soon I realized that MBA is what I want to do. So I went ahead and filled the
exam forms. Long story short today I am in XIMB, a premier B-school and happy with my life.

Q. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world significantly. Share your reflections on your personal
learnings during this period(1500 characters)

A. When COVID-19 struck the world I was scared. By God's grace I can say that neither of my immediate
family member was infected nor I have lost any valuable person I knew. I know what I am about to share
next will sound ludicrous, but the lockdown came in as a blessing in disguise for me. I had left my job 6
months earlier and was not able to find another job. It was for the first time I took a decision that
impacted my life and 6 months into it I was already regretting it. It was sure that I was not going to find a
good job anytime soon. The world came to halt, never seen before. I started staying agitated, started
behaving rudely with my family and not doing anything productive was cherry on the top. After 2-3
months into the lockdown I reconnected with one my school teacher, someone whom I immensely
respect and who has played a major role in shaping me, and he told me something that completely
changed my perspective. He told me that in career of 30+ years if you are not working for a year, its not
a big deal just try and figure out what you want to do next. I had ample free time so I decided to spend it
on figuring out what next do with my life. I started consuming productive content be it via YouTube or
books. Soon I realized that MBA can provide me what I need and that is job to provide direction to a
company. Make a positive impact and at the same time use my critical thinking skills. COVID gave my life
a much needed new direction.(1499 )

Q.What is the biggest challenge or setback you have faced in your life? How has it shaped you as a
person? (1500)

A. The entire fiasco that I have been through over the period of last two years has been undoubtedly the
biggest challenge I have faced till date. Ever since I resigned and came back home I have gone through
difficult times. Starting from finding another job. I was so desperate that I started applying for jobs
without even thinking at all. I went on to fill a jobs in banks, PSU's. I bombarded company emails with
my resume nothing paid off. I was preparing for a government exam and I was confident that I could
clear it, I was not sure if I wanted the job, but as I wanted a job I filled it. Soon due to lockdown the date
of examination was shifted to June and later on to July. It was around mid June I decided to stop
preparing any more for that exam. After a month or so I started with my CAT & XAT preparations. Once
the results came, I performed well but the struggle continued every interview I gave my gap year
became the central point of discussion. I was lucky enough to get an offer from XIMB. Once the college
started I realized I might have the weakest profile. It was this place where things turned around for me.
After talking to seniors and faculty I realized that I am at par with everyone that is why I am here. I have
come out as an changed person and I am happy about how things have been. It has made me a more
calm, composed and relaxed personality. I now understand that you have to work hard and put in effort
consistently and slowly but surely things will fall in place.(1493)

Q. Tell us about something that matters very deeply to you.(1500 characters)

A. Environment conservation matters a lot to me. I feel like we have taken environment for granted. We
are turned a blind eye to this problem. The saddest part is that its a collective failure of every individual
to walk the surface of the earth. It has given us multiple warnings and now it seems to have exploded.
The entire eco-system is facing issues because of it. We have mercilessly destroyed every aspect of the
environment for our greed. It seems today environment is fighting us back. Coronavirus, global warming
ozone layer depletion, landslides, untimely rains all causing damage to life and property. There are so
many diseases like skin cancer, respiratory problems that millions of people suffer from. The 26/11
attacks in India killed 170+ people and it made headlines globally. What amuses me is 200+ people have
already died in Maharashtra floods and still nobody is discussing it. We cannot escape this by claiming it
as an act of God, or situations not in our control. The lockdown showed us the damage is not beyond
repair. We need to change our priorities if we want to exist. Despite all the development, innovation and
discoveries one thing we have failed to achieve is an alternate to Earth. Its the only planet that has life
to offer. We have failed to understand the important responsibility that was handed to us. If
environment is not conserved life will not exist. Without life all earth would be is a spherical surface that
revolves around the sun like other planets. (1499)

Over the years I have seen some of my habits rub-off to my friends and family. Witnessing this change in
them has provided me with a sense of satisfaction. Over the years change in their perspective has kept
me motivated to the cause and spread awareness about the same. (1100 words)fdghcmbfdkhmfb