Pilot dream that paved way for JEE Mains top rank; Kerala topper ENK Vaishnav responds

THRISSUR: "I became fascinated with flying during my childhood days, when it required me to travel from my hometown to Muscat. That's how I dreamed of becoming a pilot. Now I want to become an aerospace engineer," said E.N.K. Vaishnav, the state's topper in the JEE Main exam.

Vaishnav, his mother Sandhya and younger brother Karthik used to live in Muscat with father Kritish until four years ago. The two initially studied at the Indian School Darsait in Muscat. Later, Vaishnav joined Nattika S.N. Vidya Bhavan for classes nine and ten. For Plus Two, Vaishnav is now studying at Devamatha School in Thrissur.

Realising that passing the entrance exam was essential for his dream of becoming an aerospace engineer, Vaishnav got into an entrance training course after a screening test conducted by Brilliant Study Center in Pala. Then, as part of the training, he moved to a hostel adjacent to the coaching center and school.

"I used to wake up at 5 am and study until 8 am, when my school bus usually arrived. After leaving school at 3 pm, I took coaching at Brilliant Study Center in Patturaikkal, Thrissur, and then to the hostel in Cheroor and continued studying until 11 pm. I only slept for six hours," said Vaishnav.

Vaishnav is currently preparing for the Plus Two board exams. Having cleared the JEE Advanced exam and KEEM with a good rank, he is interested in pursuing a postgraduate degree in aerospace engineering after completing a mechanical engineering degree. Vaishnav also wants to secure a high rank in the JEE Advanced exam and is keen on studying at IIT Mumbai or IIT Madras. To make this a reality, the teen is working day and night.

Vaishnav’s father, Kritish, a long-time expatriate, now works back home as the CEO of the Athi Group, which provides speech therapy to autistic students. It is Sandhya’s role to look after Vaishnav and his younger brother Karthik, who is in the 10th standard.