Living their dreams

Shipurkar is not the first,and definitely not the last person to completely switch career paths. Decision-making is the basis of a student’s life,post school. More often than not,students stick to the route that their graduation degree paves for them,but there are several instances of people realising their true calling only later. “My decision was risky,yes,but I was confident about myself. Plus,my family was supportive so the transition became a little easier. It’s all about following that gut feeling,” Shipurkar explains.

For some,the reasons could differ – they may be bored with their jobs or may just have the urge to try out something new. Sagar Ladde is a standing example of the latter. He currently works with Friends Union for Energising Lives (FUEL),a city-based NGO which guides students to make the right career choice after twelfth standard. Previously,Sagar worked for four years as a computer engineer. “Right since my college days,I was inclined towards doing something for society. Social activities were always a part of my extra-curricular activities,” he says,adding,“Even while working as a computer engineer,I kept in touch with FUEL.” When asked whether the job shift was a spontaneous one,he says,“The shift was always on my mind. Unless you try something new,you will never know what it is like to do it. Plus,it was always something that I wanted to do,and it’s really going great.”

Shraddha Nair,like Shikarpur,took the risk of changing her profession after realising that she wasn’t passionate about her job. This economics graduate says,“I worked as an analyst with an investment bank,but I knew it was a big mistake.” She is now a full-time journalist. “The media was always a field of interest. Being a news junkie is so much better than working as an analyst! Quitting my previous job was an impulsive decision but the best one I’ve ever made!” she quips. Was she nervous about entering a completely new field? “It was a huge risk and changing cities,working in a different environment with varying pay checks did make me nervous but it has paid off. I’m happy now,” she smiles.

Two things can’t be more different than Chartered Accountancy and Art! They are poles apart,and Kunal Jadhav has travelled from end of that pole to the other. This CA-turned-artist reveals,“Painting has always been special to me since childhood. It’s where my interest lies. So I have now established a venture for my paintings and other artistic work. Art is what motivates me.”

Another dream chaser is Ajinkya Kulkarni. This management graduate plunged into the world of cooking. “After graduation,I chose cooking as I really enjoy it,” he reasons. He’s currently enjoying his stint with a hotel. “Let’s see where this takes me,” he smiles.