Educator Shobhit Nirwan has reflected on his experience in Kota and explained how the competitive academic environment changed the way he viewed his own abilities. In a recent public post, Nirwan recalled that he had scored 10 CGPA in Class 10 and had developed confidence in his academic performance. However, moving to Kota for competitive examination preparation exposed him to a much more competitive environment.
Nirwan said that before reaching Kota, he was accustomed to performing well academically. His Class 10 result had contributed to the belief that he was a strong student. However, his perception changed after he entered an environment where many students had similarly strong or even more advanced academic backgrounds. He recalled meeting students who had topped board examinations, participated successfully in Olympiads, topped their respective states and, in some cases, had started preparing for the IIT entrance examination at a very young age.
According to Nirwan, this experience was uncomfortable initially because he was no longer surrounded by an environment in which his previous achievements automatically made him stand out. Instead, he found himself among students with different levels of preparation and academic exposure. The experience led him to reassess how he measured his own ability.
Rather than continuing to compare himself with others, Nirwan said the experience encouraged him to focus more on learning and understanding how much remained to be explored. His reflection highlights how an individual's perception of academic ability can be influenced by the people and environment around them.
Kota has long been associated with preparation for competitive examinations, particularly engineering and medical entrance tests. Students from different parts of India move to the city to attend coaching programmes and prepare for highly competitive examinations. The city therefore brings together students with different academic backgrounds, achievements and levels of preparation.
For Nirwan, the experience became more than an academic challenge. He said it changed the way he understood personal potential. His reflection suggests that being surrounded by high achieving students can sometimes make an individual question their own abilities, but it can also provide an opportunity to recognise areas for improvement and develop a broader perspective.
Nirwan has previously spoken about his two year experience in Kota and how it influenced his later journey. In an earlier account of his educational journey, he said he went to Kota after Class 10 for JEE preparation before joining IIIT Vadodara for a BTech degree in Information Technology. He later began creating educational content while in college, eventually building a career focused on helping students with examinations, study strategies and academic challenges.
His recent comments also connect with his broader view of examinations and education. In another public post, Nirwan discussed how his academic experiences taught him lessons related to handling pressure, managing time, maintaining consistency and preparing for difficult situations. He argued that marks and skills should not necessarily be viewed as competing priorities, suggesting that the process of studying can also help students develop useful habits.
Nirwan's comments about Kota therefore focus less on the numerical value of his Class 10 result and more on how the surrounding environment changed his perspective. A high score had given him confidence, but entering a highly competitive setting showed him that academic performance can look very different depending on the group against which it is compared.
The experience also illustrates an important distinction between achievement and potential. A strong academic record can demonstrate previous performance, but it does not necessarily define the limits of what a student can learn or accomplish in the future. Exposure to challenging peers and unfamiliar standards can encourage students to reassess their strengths, identify gaps and develop new approaches to learning.
Nirwan's account presents his Kota experience as a period of personal and academic growth rather than simply a story about competition. His central message is that students should not measure their entire ability through comparison with others. Instead, the right environment can help them recognise that there may be significantly more to learn and achieve.
For students preparing for competitive examinations, the experience also underlines the importance of maintaining perspective. Entering a demanding academic environment can be intimidating, particularly when surrounded by high performing peers. However, such an environment can also provide exposure to new methods of preparation, stronger competition and different approaches to problem solving.
Nirwan's journey from a student preparing in Kota to an educator and content creator has allowed him to share these experiences with a wider student audience. His reflections continue to focus on academic preparation, personal development and the lessons that students can carry beyond examinations.
Ultimately, Nirwan's recollection suggests that his 10 CGPA was an important academic achievement, but the experience in Kota changed the way he interpreted that achievement. Instead of seeing success as a fixed measure, he came to view learning as a continuing process. The competitive environment did not necessarily make him less capable, but it showed him that his understanding of what was possible could become much broader.
