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From the outside, choosing a PGDM might look like another academic decision, but for me, it felt more like a continuation of a journey I had already been walking for years. My life took shape through NCC camps, long defence-preparation days, repeated SSB attempts, disciplined routines, and nights of questioning myself after being conference-out. Through all those phases, one thing remained constant my fascination with people, behaviour, and leadership. My interest in sociology and psychology made me the kind of person who naturally stepped forward to organise, guide, or support others, whether in group tasks or during NCC drills.

But the real turning point came unexpectedly. During one conversation, my bhaiya  an Army officer  looked at me and said, “Leadership is not only in uniform  corporate also needs officers.” That sentence hit deeper than I expected. For someone who had cleared CDS multiple times and shaped his life around discipline, that one line created a new direction. I had always dreamt of doing an MBA someday, but defence had taken the front seat. When life opened a different door, I realised maybe this was the path I was meant to explore next.

When I started researching institutes, I didn’t look for the biggest campus or the fanciest facilities. I looked for a place that would challenge me, push me, transform me just like NCC and SSB had done. That’s when I came across ISB&M Bengaluru. Every review I read, every alumni interaction I heard, and every bit of feedback I collected pointed to one thing: this institute doesn’t just give a degree it creates managers who know how to survive and grow in the corporate world. The placement culture felt like a finishing school where you are not spoon-fed, but sharpened. And the residential lifestyle was exactly what I wanted. I knew that living in a campus environment surrounded by peers, learning from every corner of the day would bring out a new version of me that regular classroom learning never could. Without overthinking, I made the decision. I took direct admission.

Surprisingly, I didn’t carry any fear with me. After surviving the emotional highs and lows of defence prep, after pushing through self-doubt, and after that heated argument with my father that forced me to think about my future with honesty, choosing ISB&M felt like a fresh, clean chapter. I didn’t feel pressure, confusion, or second thoughts. I only felt determination.

What excites me today about HR is not just one aspect it’s the entire spectrum. Understanding people, shaping culture, resolving conflicts, building teams, planning strategy all of this feels like an extension of everything I’ve already lived. NCC had given me discipline and teamwork. I still remember one specific moment during a camp when the group got confused during a drill. No one told me to lead, but I found myself stepping forward, organising the team, making sure everyone was aligned. That moment made me realise I didn’t need a title to lead leadership came to me naturally. SSB, on the other hand, made me self-aware. It taught me how I behave under pressure, how I respond to setbacks, and how I carry myself in a group. And that argument with my father… as painful as it was, it gave me direction. It made me reflect deeply on what I truly wanted to build in life.

All of these pieces have come together now at ISB&M Bangalore. Every class, every group activity, every interaction feels like a step towards becoming the HR professional I always envisioned. My short-term goal is clear: become a strong HR manager. And in the long run, I see myself growing into strategic HR someone who can build systems, shape culture, and influence organisational direction. ISB&M isn’t just preparing me for a job; it’s preparing me for the person I want to become.

Looking back, choosing ISB&M Bangalore wasn’t just a logical decision. It was emotional, aspirational, and instinctive. It felt aligned with my journey from NCC to SSB, from discipline to dream-building, from confusion to clarity. Now, when I walk across the campus, attending classes, working with peers, learning from faculty, I feel a sense of purpose. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Because some paths you choose.
And some paths choose you.