Hailing from a small village called Bhadaur, I am Baljinder Singh, an alumnus of Akal Academy Bhadaur, where I’ve spent most of my days of schooling beginning from class 2nd, when the Academy had just initiated, till completion of my 12th in the year 2006 – the most transforming phase of my life.
The school gave me more than an average rural kid like me can dream for; it widened my horizon of thinking, giving a new dimension to my dreams, my goals and my outlook towards life. I belong from a middle class family wherein my dad runs a SME of glass designing and my mother is a housewife.
I was fortunate that by the time I was in class 2nd, an Akal Academy had come up right at our doorstep in our village. In no time the school became popular and it became a subject of talk amongst all rural parents due to its ultra-modern city-like schooling facilities and stark infrastructure it was offering alongside it’s exclusive values-based education system – the first of its kind for the village students.
Hence, inspired and influenced by the new wave of transformation that Akal Academy was promising, my parents decided to switch my school. The Akal Academy was also the first and only school in our region to be affiliated with CBSE board, there were absolutely no other options and lucky we were to have it, that too alongside the best of standards – be it academics or the unique element of spirituality & human values that they inculcated into the young minds of the rural students.
A part of my heart still lies with some of my favorite teachers at school, who were also mentors for me personally, for they provided me with much of the required inspiration to be all that I am today – Anupreet Madam, who taught us multiple subjects and especially English during our primary and secondary years; Rakesh Sir, who taught us the laws of physics like no one else could’ve; Sonu Sharma Sir, who further polished our English during the senior secondary years.
Post schooling, I joined Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering in Ferozepur from where I pursued my B.Tech, after which, with the grace of Almighty I successfully got my 1st Job at ESS Techno Fab, Derabasti. Later, I joined a company called Gill Sandhu Machine Tools/Gill Power Press in Ludhiana where I gained the much required practical experience right from the grassroots to the senior levels of engineering, I stayed in the company for around 2 ½ years until I got placement with my present employer company – Rinox Engineering, Ludhiana, where I’ve completed my 6 months recently.
Alongside working, I am currently also pursuing my MBA degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh through correspondence; I am hopeful that with blessings of Almighty this would brighten up the prospects for my career and future.
Furthermore, for my native village, I have a deep desire to see or bring about more development, especially on the post-schooling educational front. I wish there be more institutes, built on similar lines as those of the Akal Academies; providing various career options alongside professional counseling and career guidance to the rural youth post their schooling, so they can wisely choose their career paths.
To the rural parents, I would like to appeal that it is important for them to support their kids especially on the educational front. Alongside facilitating education, it is equally important for parents to understand the need to set their kids free, as in – freedom to decide, freedom to follow their own interests of their own heart and understanding – which surely gives an edge to the child; this would ensure they would grow in the right direction and succeed towards a better and brighter future!.
Gur-Fateh.
Wishes & Regards,
Er. Baljinder Singh Gill
Rinox Engineering Company