Satyam Kumar comes from a small farming family in Bihar, where education has always had to be weighed against what the family could afford. His father grows seasonal crops such as paddy and wheat, and farming is the family’s only source of income. With a limited annual family income, supporting the education of three children has never been easy.
Satyam has seen the limits of those resources closely. His elder brother had wanted to study engineering but had to choose a B.A. instead because an engineering degree was beyond the family’s means. His sister completed Class 12 but could not continue her education for the same reason. Satyam’s own opportunity to pursue engineering therefore carries the weight of both his ambition and his family’s sacrifices.
After Class 12, Satyam appeared for JEE Main exam hoping to secure a seat at a government engineering college. His score qualified him only for private colleges he could not afford. Rather than give up on engineering, he took a year to prepare again.
He did it largely on his own.
Using online learning platforms such as Physics Wallah, Khan Academy and Unacademy, he spent the year preparing for another attempt. There was no expensive coaching programme or elaborate study setup, just the determination to improve his chances.
His second attempt paid off. With a JEE Main percentile of 97.84, Satyam earned admission to the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, where he is pursuing a B.Tech in Civil Engineering.
For a student from his background, reaching NIT Warangal is not just an academic achievement. It represents what became possible when he chose not to give up after his first attempt.
But getting into college was only one part of the challenge. Staying there and meeting the costs of higher education is another.
The Lakshya Scholarship from Shiksha Sankalp Society is helping ease that burden. More importantly, it gives Satyam the space to concentrate on his studies and make the most of his place at NIT Warangal.
Satyam hopes to become a civil engineer and build a more secure future for his family. But he also has another ambition: to eventually help students from financially disadvantaged families pursue opportunities that may otherwise remain beyond their reach.
Satyam is still only at the beginning of his engineering journey. He has a degree to complete, skills to develop, and a career to build. But there is something important he has already learned: not getting the opportunity you want the first time does not necessarily mean you have to give up on it.
He took the exam again. He found his way into NIT Warangal. And now, with the support of the Lakshya Scholarship, he has the chance to keep building on that second opportunity.
