Purpose is Paramount

He’s just 24 but speaks with precision and a touch of humility, a rare quality for his age. Rushikesh Bhosle is unapologetically ambitious—he wishes to achieve everything and never shies away from hardwork. Currently, he is working with Infosys as their Associate Consultant. Amidst recounting his journey, he offered a heartfelt message to his juniors and sharing the lessons that shaped his inspiring story

Ask him to share a bit about himself, and he’ll carry on with barely a pause. Catch him midbreath to know more, and he’ll smile - “Hold on, I’ll tell you a story.” This impulse alone reveals his passion for learning, his eagerness to share, his hunger for knowledge, and his unmistakable zest for life. That’s Rushikesh Bhosle, the son of a farmer and a homemaker, who was born and raised in Parbhani, Maharashtra.

The perfectionist

Growing up, Rushikesh wanted nothing less than the best for himself. Good grades weren’t enough, they had to be great. When he aimed for the moon and landed among the stars—a few marks short of what he envisioned, it gutted him. “My dream was perfection. If not 100 percent, I could atleast settle for 99.9. Nothing short of that. So, when I scored 95 percent in my 10th, I was heartbroken,” he recalled.

Was this a family-imposed pressure? He shaked his head. “No, it was all me. This feeling to be a perfectionist came from within—the gut.”

Such an attitude, of course, comes at a cost. Rushikesh was willing to pay it. “I was a study-12-hours-a-day teenager. Social life was a blur. My life revolved around school, study, my room and revision,” he informed.

But, after the results a new realisation hit. “The rest of my friends scored the same as me, even though they only studied a month or two before exams. So where did I go wrong? That was a kind of brain teaser for me.”

Finding a way in the chaos

After school, Rushikesh’s attitude took a 360-degree turn. The perfectionist who once chased every decimal point suddenly loosened his grip. “Well, I took it a lot easier than it sounds. So easy that I barely scored 65 percent in 12th,” he admitted with a trace of dejection in his voice.

The slide wasn’t without reason. His grandfather’s sudden demise left him shattered. The boy who once spent 12 hours a day with his books now spent long stretches locked in his room. “Depression hit me. Worried parents, a bleak future, it was legit scary,” he recalled.

Confusion, detours and sunshine

What followed post the 12th saga was more chaos and confusion. “With such low marks, I didn’t want to show my face to my parents or the society. But, my cousin sister came to the rescue. I stayed with her family for a month, which helped me recoup,” reminisced Rushikesh.

Then started the real journey, what next? “I enrolled in a BCS degree, didn’t like it, left it. Thought of doing BA—it didn’t work either.

Finally, he sought his redemption by entering ACS College, Pune, for a BBA in Finance. And, he aced the degree—scoring straight A’s and topping all the exams without any competition. “This was my redemption,” he smiled

A heartfelt message

Rushikesh has now learnt the art of staying calm and re-evaluating his life. Leaving his juniors with a heartfelt message, he said:

“I don’t regret the way I have handled things so far. But yes, I feel I should have gone easier on myself, shouldn’t have put so much pressure on myself. Being confused is still fine, but we shouldn’t compare our journey with others. Life is not easy, there will be ups and downs. Although I was confused, I took a break and felt the pain but never gave up. I guess, I could persist only because I had a purpose—a purpose to be the best. Don’t pay attention to what society will say. Follow your heart. Life is precious, live it wisely.”

• Say no to comparison: Don’t compare your success or failure with your friends or peers. Everyone has their own pace and strategy, so do you. Comparison will only pull you down. Follow your own path. Remember, there is no comparison between the sun and the moon, they both shine on their own time.
• Strike a balance: Don’t overburden yourself, you will achieve everything in life in due time. Work hard, but don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Finding balance will help you reach your goals the right way.
• Engage in extracurricular activities: All work and no play makes a person dull. Students must engage in extracurricular activities to unleash their full potential. Participating in events, clubs and competitions, helps develop leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills. These experiences enrich them and prepare them for the real world.
• Seek guidance from your seniors: Your seniors have seen a few seasons more than you, trust their knowledge and seek their help in shaping your career path. Their experience will surely add value to your journey.
• Communicate like a pro: Whether in your educational, professional or personal life, effective communication is the key to success. During the PI (Personal Interview) round of campus placements, it is crucial to communicate clearly and concisely. Focus on showcasing your unique strengths and selling your USP. Only then will you stand out to the selectors. So, speak up!

The placement grind

Post his graduation, he pursued an MBA in Digital Marketing and Business Analytics. Chaos followed him there too. “The college had a strict schedule which I couldn’t keep up with. I wanted to quit again and even spoke with my parents, but as usual, they were supportive. Listening to that I thought, enough is enough—I am not giving up, rather, I will achieve the impossible.”

What followed was a turnaround—he topped his semesters, participated in fests and events, and kept adding value to his career and life—helping him evolve.

When campus placements came around, he sought help from his seniors - Bhargavi and Priya, who guided the confused soul in the right direction. He worked hard on his communication skills, took part in mock interviews and GDs, and prepared himself for the best. “The journey here wasn’t easy. I faced rejection 6–7 times until I finally got placed with Infosys.”

His purpose doesn’t end here. As he climbs the ladder of success, he envisions clearing the Civil Services—a childhood dream. After blurting out his story in one breath, he let out a sigh of relief.