With enough persistence, most things, which at first seem impossible, become possible.

A ‘No’ does not mark the end of a goal, giving up does.

In 2006, I had set my sights on a Computer Science degree. However, owing to the tight race for Computer Science seats, I was forced to accept admission to a Mechanical Engineering course. But I entered college with a plan. A plan that would get me the Computer Science education that I had always wanted.

 With no time to waste, I put my plan into action on the first day of college. My 18-year-old self was going to impress the Vice Principal, Mr. T V Christy, with a compelling speech, on my love for computers, which would persuade him to transfer me to CS. Unfortunately, that’s not how the real world, with its rules and limits, works. So, it came as a rather sobering shock, when at the end of my speech, the VP said there were no vacancies in CS.

 Despite the firm ‘No’, I went back to his office the next day. This time I wasn’t armed with a speech, but a stratagem that involved trading seats with a CS student who wanted to study Mechanical Engineering. But much to my disappointment, I was told that college seats can’t be bartered. Instead, Mr Christy told me that if a CS student decided to drop out, I would be considered to take their place. When I asked him what the odds of that happening were, he said, “I don't know – that hardly ever happens. Also, there are other candidates waiting for the same opportunity.”

 That came as a hard blow. However, I stuck to the plan, and made a habit of visiting the VP’s office every day during my lunch break. I wanted my case to stay relevant, so that when the opportunity arose, he would remember me. On one such visit, an exasperated Mr Christy asked me to stop coming to his office every day, with the same question. He said, “If there’s a vacancy, we will let you know.”

Not one to give up, I just revised my strategy. Instead of visiting his office every day, I started greeting him as he walked from his car to his office. So, every morning I patiently waited for his car to arrive, and then made a dramatic appearance. I also continued visiting his office, but only every fortnight.

 As the months passed, the chances of transferring to CS were diminishing. Yet, I kept up the daily routine. I persisted, remained steadfast and hopeful.

 And finally, that paid off, when at the end of my 1st semester, I was summoned to the VP’s office, where I received the news that a CS student, who couldn’t acclimatize to the weather, was transferring to a different college, and that I could take her place.

 I almost cried.  I could see his happiness as well.