In the time, when software industry was run-of-the-mill and societal notion

of heavy payoffs were quintessential engineering degrees outcome, I

was selecting my preferred major for the college application. Opting for
Mechanical Engineering was not only challenging but also reinforcing my
courage within to follow my inner voice, my mind and my dream. Being
born in a racially and culturally diverse country of India, with innumerable
ethnic traditions, provincial languages and festivals, gave me cogent
understanding of what diversity really means. But recently, there has
been a striking similarity in terms of career choices of such a diverse
group of people. The stereotypical ideology, to only choose careers that
get highly paid, is overshadowing the passionate innovator inside them.
I was fortunate enough to be born to open-minded parents. Being just a
bank clerk, my father still somehow provided for the best quality
education for me. He always encouraged me to pursue whatever I wish to.
As a result, despite of tremendous societal-pressures, I stood strong to
pursue my aspirations and childhood convictions of becoming a
Mechanical Engineer. During my undergraduate studies, I led a diverse
team of 12 enthusiastic engineering students who successfully
constructed a Human powered vehicle. This experience taught me that
respecting everyones opinion is the key to a well-coordinated teamwork.
Furthermore, inspired by the creation of Tata Nano and Toyota Prius, I
want to dedicate my life and technical skills in developing cheaper and
eco-friendly vehicles, making them accessible to financially weaker
sections of the society and conserving the mother Earth concurrently. For
this purpose, the depth of knowledge required will be fulfilled by my
graduate-studies.
While upbringing me, my father instilled in me his munificent character.
Consequently, I offered my voluntary services to an NGO, Kartavya,
which provides free education to underprivileged kids. This was a turning
point in my life as I acquired the opportunity to harness the young talent
and the benefits it could bring to our developing nation. At first handling
the children was a tedious task as they were masters of their own will and
also because they belonged to uneducated family backgrounds. Having
struggled initially, I was drawn as a facilitator to students who struggled
with their own identity. I made extra efforts to reach out to special
students and began to grasp the immense obstacles that students with
mental illnesses faced on their journey of finding their own sense of
belonging. An assortment of interaction with students, and a re-evaluation
of my strengths motivated me to do something meaningful for the welfare
of humanity.

What makes me diverse is my repertoire of experiences, the extensive

time I spent living in a variety of communities, my ethics and my firm
belief in Do what you love, love what you do instead of just getting paid
well. I can adapt to any environment as I now comprehend my
grandmothers meaningful anecdotes from my childhood and the moral of
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, implying the earth is one family and
mankind its citizens, has penetrated all my reservoirs of knowledge.