For the past five years, I’ve been trying—and failing—to maintain a daily journal. So, I decided to start a blog instead to share my thoughts and experiences.
Why focus on these specific five years? Because they have been the most critical and transformative years of my life.
It all began in 11th grade back in Solapur. I distinctively remember the day a close college friend returned from a short IIT crash course in Pune. Excited and full of ambition, he urged me to move to Pune with him for our 12th-grade studies. He painted a vivid picture of Pune's education system—and with the famous 30-70 region quota at COEP (College of Engineering Pune) as a major factor, I managed to convince my parents to let me go. Eventually, four other friends joined in on the plan.
By January 2005, word was already out that I was moving. I quit my local coaching classes in Solapur, secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from my college, and by March, I officially set off for Pune.
That was exactly five years ago today. And that’s when reality hit.
Taking the Leap
In Pune, I immediately joined a local coaching institute. However, my 11th-grade results were not out yet, making my admission to a new college uncertain—especially since I was aiming for the competitive Electronics stream. My four friends were still waiting back in Solapur.
Hoping for some flexibility, I asked the coaching class administration for a 10-day extension so I could secure my college admission first. They refused, dismissively asking, "Are you afraid you won't even pass 11th grade?"
With no alternative, I paid the ₹15,000 fee and enrolled.
When my 11th-grade results finally arrived, I was the college topper with 96%. Yet, as June approached and colleges prepared to reopen on June 10th, I found myself in a massive dilemma:
I had already taken my NOC from my Solapur college and couldn't go back.
My original tuition classes in Solapur were nearly finished with the syllabus.
I had already non-refundably paid ₹15,000 to the coaching institute in Pune.
My four friends remained back in Solapur.
I still didn't have a college admission in Pune.
Determined, I hunted for admissions on my own. On June 22nd, I finally secured a spot at Modern College. But the struggle was far from over.
The Grinding Routine
I was staying at my uncle’s place in Market Yard. College was at JM Road (10 km away), and my tuition was in Parvati. Being new to the city, I knew almost no one. Every single weekday followed a relentless schedule:
5:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Wake up and study
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM: Early lunch and travel to the bus station
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM: College lectures
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Quick snack and study in the college library
4:40 PM – 5:30 PM: Travel by bus and walk to tuition classes
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Coaching classes
9:30 PM: Arrive back home
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Dinner
10:00 PM – 12:00 AM: Late-night study, then sleep
I had no one to vent to during those grueling months. What kept me going through the isolation and exhaustion was a single unwavering dream: getting into COEP Computer Science.
In January 2006, my family relocated to Pune, which required yet another phase of adjustment to a new home environment. But the hard work began to pay off. When the board results came out, I secured 14th rank on the merit list—becoming the first student in the history of that coaching institute to make the merit list.
Yes, the very same institute that once questioned whether I would even pass 11th grade.
Proving the Doubters Wrong
But as the saying goes, "Dilli abhi bahut door thi" (the final destination was still far away). The next battle was the MHT-CET entrance exam.
I stayed with the same coaching class, even though their historical highest CET score was 181. I practically lived in their library, studying until 10:00 PM every night before heading home for dinner.
When the final results arrived, I scored 191 out of 200.
That score secured my dream: admission to COEP Computer Engineering.
Looking back now near the end of my engineering degree, I frequently reflect on that intense year. It taught me resilience, showed me the true nature of hard work, and shaped who I am today.
I am incredibly proud to call myself a COEPIAN.
