APJ Abdul Kalam had once said, “We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.” Delhi resident Avinash understood the crux of this motto pretty early in his life. Being a hard worker and an enthusiastic learner, he secured scholarships for his education, thus, making his way out of Delhi slums to the classrooms of IIM Ahmedabad. Earning Capital First Scholarship 2018-20 confirmed his ticket for a bright future.

Read about Avinash’s struggles and triumphs in this interview and know how his grit and determination paved way for an accomplished career. Excerpts from his interview with Buddy4Study:

Buddy4Study: Tell us about your academic and professional background before joining this management programme.

Avinash: I passed class 10 and 12 from CBSE with a CGPA score of 8.8 and 73.5% marks, respectively. I pursued my graduation in B.Sc. (Hons.) Electronic Science from Rajdhani College of the University of Delhi with 78.14% marks. In 2005, I won the Annual Scholarship for Meritorious Students which was awarded by the Directorate of Education, MCD Delhi. In 2010, I achieved the highest CGPA in class 10 with a score of A2 in 5 subjects and thus, was awarded the Certificate of Merit. For securing a seat in IIM-A PGP Program in 2018, I received a Special Achievement Award and a cheque of INR 10,000 from Rajdhani College.

Buddy4Study: What drove you towards the pursuit of an MBA course?

Avinash: During the 2nd year of my graduation, I participated in a few business case study competitions. From there I discovered my passion to study Management & Business. Later, I appeared for CAT & scored a decent percentile to secure admission at the prestigious B-school IIM-A.

Buddy4Study: What were the key challenges you faced while preparing for your MBA admissions?

Avinash: Lack of financial support. I did not have sufficient resources to join any coaching institute. Hence, I prepared for the Common Admission Test on my own. With my continuous hard work and dedication, I was able to score good in CAT.

Buddy4Study: What has been your source of inspiration?

Avinash: Coming from a poor family living in slums, I understood that working hard is the only way to change my life situation. This strong feeling of changing my circumstances combined with the passion to learn management culminated into my success.

Buddy4Study: Despite the financial constraints, you decided to pursue an MBA course. How did your parents react when you told them about your ambitions?

Avinash: My parents are illiterate and had no idea of what I was doing or going to do. Lack of awareness and the ever-present tense environment in the family never allowed me to discuss my ambition at length with them. Luckily when I got admitted into IIM Ahmedabad, I told them about my aspirations and desires. They blessed me to work hard without thinking about the financial situation of the family.

Buddy4Study: How did you come to know about the Capital First Scholarship? What was the process you followed to avail the scholarship?

Avinash: The General Secretary of IIM-A floated a mail regarding Capital First Scholarship for needy students. I contacted her to know more about it. I understood the process and applied for it. I collected more information directly by communication over mail with Buddy4Study.

Buddy4Study: You grabbed a seat in IIM Ahmedabad. Which other B-schools did you qualify for?

Avinash: IIM Calcutta and IIM Khozikode.

Buddy4Study: What goals have you set for yourself in the future?

Avinash: I plan to climb the corporate ladder through my hard work & dedication. I want to be an inspiration to thousands of worthy students who are living in slums or belong to poor families and are not able to get a proper education because of financial constraints.

Buddy4Study: What advice would you give to the young ones who face various challenges towards pursuing higher education?

Avinash: Never lose hope. Believe in yourself and believe in your goals. You will overcome all the challenges once you are determined enough to work hard for them. Physical, psychological & financial constraints are only there to test your will to work hard. Go ahead. Achieve your goals. Inspire others like you.

To know more about scholarships, click here.

Also read: Merit Scholarships – All You Need to Know