As a child, I used to cry to go to school — not because I wanted to learn, but because I wanted to belong. I would see other children wearing uniforms and heading somewhere with purpose. I wanted that too.

That is how my education began — without knowing what I was stepping into. My parents never forced me to study, but they always encouraged me to do my best. For most of my early school years, I was a below-average student.

Everything changed in 9th grade in 1995. I joined a computer programming extracurricular class — almost by accident. A friend asked me to join because he wanted company while cycling back home after class. I agreed, without realizing that decision would shape my life.

I was surprised when my father allowed me to enroll. I assumed he wouldn’t, since I wasn’t academically strong.

From the very first day, I was captivated. The large tower CPU, the CRT monitor — everything fascinated me. The moment I typed a few characters into the computer and saw it respond, I was hooked.

For the first time, I looked forward to going to school — not for academics, but for that programming class.

I paid attention to every word. I visualized concepts in my mind. I answered questions confidently — something I had never done in regular classes.

During holidays, I would spend entire days at the computer training institute. The trainers graciously allowed me to practice coding for hours. They saw my enthusiasm and supported me wholeheartedly.

It wasn’t pressure. It wasn’t force. It was pure love and passion.

I didn’t “prepare” for the exam — I simply understood the subject. I scored 93 out of 100 and ranked second highest in the school. I wasn’t trying to top the class. I was simply enjoying the process.

It was the first time I had ever scored above 90%. That’s when I discovered something life-changing: marks follow understanding.

This realization transformed my academic journey. I began focusing on fundamentals instead of memorizing.

I started spending hours at the BHEL library, exploring books beyond textbooks and strengthening my conceptual foundation.

My performance steadily improved. I scored 90% in 12th grade, achieving centum in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

I secured a rank of 2149 in EAMCET and earned admission into Vasavi College of Engineering. I also cleared the MBA entrance and received admission into ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad.

All because one day, in 9th grade, a friend asked me to accompany him home after computer class.