“You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain. My name is Karishma Ghosh. I am basically from West Bengal. My parents wanted me to do medical but, every person has his/her destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads you. I decided to do something which I wanted to as I have grown up trying my hands on different kind of things without making it complex for me. So I preferred to go for Bachelor in Biotechnology from Graphic Era University. What motivated and encouraged me for this was the collaboration of both biology and technology in one field. The challenging concepts and the applications evoked my interest.
When my college started, I started doing practical in biotech labs. It was a very good experience, and we got to do things on our own. The first thing which we did was extracting our DNA. The idea of extracting our DNA and analyzing it was really exciting for my young mind. The deeper I went in this, the more I wanted to know. I started getting involved in clubs, the university had a biotech club in the department. I used to conduct seminars and workshops for students. Initially, I was the event manager of the club. Gradually, I became the Vice President. So I usually spent my time creating seminars and workshops for students. Gradually, I started conducting mushroom cultivation classes. I did everything with love, passion, and dedication. I enjoyed doing all of this but never left my studies.
Then for some time I completely shut down everything for the preparation of different interviews and GATE because it was the right time for me to make my dreams come true. People still think that biotechnology is only about biology. But that is not how it seems to be. Good knowledge of Mathematics adds up to be an important criterion to make your career in this field. Biotechnology is an emerging field and the day is not far when the world will be conquered by it. So don’t confine yourself with the feeling of Biotechnology having no scope. The field is growing at a good pace and still, there is a long way to go.
After graduation, I didn’t want to end my journey in exploring biology. GATE is a way to get your Master’s done from institutions like IIT’s and IISC’s. Thus, qualifying this exam got added to one of my priorities. I got many job offers from different companies. But I decided to go for higher studies. I studied day and night and cleared IIT Bombay. When the results were out, I was on cloud nine. So right now I am pursuing Biomedical engineering. Throughout my journey, a professor of mine was very helpful and helped me in all the different activities. Professor Mr. Manoj also helped me with my notes throughout my GATE Coaching. He was the one who guided me throughout the entire journey.
Life is not easy for any of us. We must have perseverance and above all, confidence. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing, at any cost, must be attained. It was difficult for me to manage things, but giving up on them was never my plan. It was a challenge for me but somehow I did it, just because I believed in myself.
Confidence is something that makes you shine. Many of us struggle with this issue. In an era of social media, we often compare ourselves with others. We might lack confidence at work, in public speaking, or in meeting new people, which makes us fear that we might not be taken seriously. This was one of the major reasons I was lacking. I was not able to speak things up or put my thoughts into words in front of people. But I was sure this won’t work for long. So I gradually turned myself into a stronger woman, who could stand up for herself. This was one of the most important driving factors in performing well in GATE.
To all the students who are in their high school or senior secondary level, if biology gears up your interest to do something new, biotechnology is the right field to plunge yourself into.”
Instagram – @karishma_ghosh
*The views expressed in the above article are of the writer and not Winged Club.