My Cookie Jar

This is a bit of self-praise. I was listening to David Goggins' audiobook, "Can't Hurt Me," where he talks about the concept of a "cookie jar." He suggests having a jar filled with achievements, successes, moments when we pushed our limits, and overcame challenges. During tough times, we can dip into this jar, using old memories to propel ourselves forward and overcome the present situation. So, what follows is my Cookie Jar! It might not be complete, and I'll keep adding to it as I move forward in life.

I've read "Psycho-Cybernetics" five or six times now. There's a concept in the book about using past successful memories to regain that winning feeling and help shift our mindset towards success. So, the cookie jar will assist me there too.

1. Marathon (Twice) - This stands as one of my greatest achievements, perhaps second only to stress analysis. Running a sub-five-hour marathon was monumental for me. When I started training, even 2.5 kilometers felt torturous due to my asthma. It wasn't a one-month journey but rather 3-5 years of on-and-off training, discipline, dietary changes, and more. Finally completing the marathon - twice - is something I'm incredibly proud of, something I should never take for granted.

2. Getting into IIT - This achievement ranks alongside, if not above, completing the marathon. After engineering, I was torn between pursuing a master's degree or starting my job (having secured a campus placement at LnT). During Diwali of my final year, my brother-in-law suggested I complete my studies in one go. I calculated that I had 100 days to prepare for the GATE exam. I created a 100-day plan for each subject and topic (below is the snapshot) and began studying independently. My cousin suggested I try studying abroad for an MSc or aim for the best institute in India, so I chose IIT.

So, in just 100 days of self-learning, I managed to secure around the 99.9th percentile - approximately 609th rank. Despite receiving few callbacks from most places, I received an invitation to interview at IIT Kharagpur. It was my first flight, and my dad accompanied me; it was quite an expensive trip. I shouldered the pressure; there was no option but to succeed. Fortunately, during my interview, only one of the two professors showed up, and I cracked it. I vividly recall sitting in my bedroom, checking the result while my mom was in the hall watching TV. When I saw I was selected, I punched the air with joy and rushed into the hall to share the good news.

Following that, I received a call from IIT Bombay; they had a written exam followed by an interview. Despite feeling homesick and not being in the best health, I aimed for Bombay and started preparing. Thankfully, I cracked that too. By then, I had already taken admission into Kharagpur since the official results were pending from IIT Bombay. It was around mid-July when I kept calling IIT Bombay, and a sweet and helpful lady provided me with a verbal confirmation of my selection.

Another unforgettable moment: I was at CST shopping for shoes, getting ready to move to Kharagpur with my mom and dad. Back in 2012, smartphones weren't as advanced, and I couldn't check the admission list online. I called my best friend and asked her to check it for me; she gave me the fantastic news of my selection, and the rest is history! :D

Well, that was a significant achievement - but it holds immense value for me. In 2012, while still a student, taking on the challenge of cracking GATE (considering there are individuals in coaching and attempting it multiple times), attending two interviews, and successfully passing both was a truly sweet victory. I strongly believe that getting into IIT has had one of the most significant positive impacts, at least in my professional career. I owe a huge thanks to my brother-in-law, brother, best friend, and parents - I had a robust support system back then too.

3. Stress Analysis - IITB - Another remarkable experience from IIT - a scenario where I found myself competing with the brightest minds from the top colleges across India. Unfamiliar with the surprise quiz concept, I scored merely 0.5 out of 5 in the initial quiz while the average easily stood above 5. Nevertheless, gradually settling into hostel life, refocusing on my studies, and dedicating significant time to the library, I found solace in meditation, which helped me navigate through the challenging transition of the first semester. Eventually, I not only regained my academic footing but also excelled, topping the final exam in stress analysis and securing the highest grade. It's a story I often revisit, marking one of the most satisfying comebacks in my life.

This achievement remains a cornerstone, propelling me forward, and I concluded my IIT journey with an impressive 9.4 grade.

4. CAT - Quants score of 99.99 - Like many others, I found myself in a mid-life crisis and decided to pursue an MBA, although I remained uncertain about it. In 2016/2017, I registered for CAT and prepared for about a month. I achieved a percentile of 99.99+ in Quants. Although I can't seem to locate the detailed results, my performance in English wasn't as strong, leading to an overall score of 97+%ile.

This experience served as a revelation, reaffirming my proficiency in analytics and problem-solving.

5. Cycling - Consistently covering 60kms - 80kms before taking a break. I accomplished this solo journey from Mahindra World City to Mahabalipuram via the back roads, almost every weekend, until I encountered a marathon DNF and ceased cycling altogether.

Presently, this holds significant importance for me, serving as a reminder of my capabilities. It reflects my potential and serves as a constant reminder that I hold the responsibility for my fitness journey - I gained weight, and it's up to me to regain my previous fitness levels.

The post will turn out to be a book and for others I am not going into details - 

6. Over the years I have been involved in loads of extra curricular activities - While these items might not directly fit into the concept of a "cookie jar," they serve as reminders of the richness and vastness of experiences I've accumulated in my life so far. Here are some:

    a. Juggling and unicycling - I managed to ride a unicycle in a straight line for a bit before I sold it. In juggling, I can effortlessly handle 4 balls and perform various tricks with three balls, three clubs, and more.

    b. Surfing - I took a crash course and was progressively improving (Mahabalipuram).

    c. Inline Skating - Picked this up during my time at IIT and became quite proficient and speedy. It not only improved my skills but also aided in shedding a considerable amount of weight, contributing to my overall fitness.

    d. Tennis - Initiated during my IIT summer school and continued during my tenure at Aqualily while at Mahindra. Those were hectic days, starting with a 5-mile run in the morning, a full day's work, and then an hour of tennis in the evenings.

    e. Solving Rubik's cube - Experimented with various algorithms and steps until I developed my own logic to solve it. Though my solving time of 3-5 minutes is far from the world record, the satisfaction was in arriving at a solution to this puzzle independently, rather than aiming for competition.

    f. Alto 800 - Purchased my first car! :D

7. Some work and study-related achievements:

    a. Winning Mahindra AutoQuotient Quiz competition - Despite only providing 1 or 2 correct answers in all four rounds combined and even giving a wrong answer in the last round, I emerged victorious, all thanks to Kartik - my flatmate, batchmate in Mahindra, Chennai, and a close friend. I cherish this in my "cookie jar" as a reminder of how fortunate I am to have such a supportive and fun-loving network. The prize was a trip to Malaysia - my inaugural overseas trip - sponsored by the company. Thank you, Kartik!

    b. PG Diploma in Machine Learning (after MTech)

    c. Winning the first prize in ISHRAE paper presentation (2012)

    d. Altair - Aug 2022 - Clinching the first (and third) positions in data science projects for Mahindra - marking my initial accolade in the field of data science! :D A beautiful trophy accompanies this achievement, currently in possession of my friends.

    e. Developing android Apps - Created a basic sudoku app with colored tiles instead of numbers. Although it's no longer available on the Play Store.

    

Lastly, I would be happy to hear your story and the cookies you have in your Jar !!