I was all set for law school. I cracked the entrance, got admitted to good colleges, and then came the classic line from my parents: “Don’t go too far.” That one restriction changed everything. I discovered interior design… and that discovery led me to JD Institute.

Joining JD was a turning point. I can confidently say that I grew,n ot just as a designer, but as a person.

The biggest chapter in my journey? The JD Design Awards. The theme was “Future Fiction,” and I honestly had no idea what to do with that. I nearly gave up. But then, while reading a book, it hit me: libraries. Spaces that once connected people to knowledge and community, slowly fading into the background. I decided to design a futuristic, sustainable library — one that celebrated tradition while stepping into the future.

My mentors — Dhanush Sir, Nishchay Sir, and Farah Ma’am — pushed me to rethink and refine every detail. At the time, it was frustrating. Now, I know it made all the difference.

Learning how to turn a vague theme into a tangible concept taught me more than any textbook ever could — time management, design thinking, and emotional grit.

To anyone stepping into this world: embrace the rejections. They’re just detours to better ideas.