From being an Agnelite to a naval officer, my journey has been transformative. As an Agnelite, I’ve always identified with the two major attitudes: Big Hearts and Brave Minds. These guiding principles have steered me through challenges and triumphs. A Big Heart taught me compassion, empathy, and kindness towards my subordinates and course mates. A Brave Mind inspired courage, resilience, and determination. The iconic movie Top Gun captivated me. Maverick’s phrase, ‘I feel the need, the need for speed,’ resonated deeply. I too felt an insatiable hunger for adventure, challenges, and service.
One unique aspect of my school experience was the annual reshuffling of classes. Every year, we were paired with new classmates. Initially challenging, this ultimately helped me adapt to diverse personalities, develop empathy and understanding towards others, forge strong bonds with colleagues from varied backgrounds, and become resilient in the face of change.
This experience honed my Officer Like Qualities (OLQs) and aided in clearing the Services Selection Board (SSB), laying the foundation for my future success in the naval academy.
However, getting selected into Asia’s largest naval academy, the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, wasn’t easy. It demanded years of preparation, countless hours of studying, disciplined food habits, unwavering dedication, and resilience in the face of setbacks.
Being part of the elite 0.01% who made it to the naval academy was an honor. Coming from a civilian background, the four-year training was tough: harsh day and night training, no access to smartphones, weekly talks at home, tons of restrictions.
But it was all worth it when my parents pinned the golden stripes on my shoulders, with the Dorniers and MiG-29K giving a fly-past, symbolizing my commission as a naval officer. Their tears of joy and pride are etched in my memory.
To those following in my footsteps, I advise: embrace challenges with a Brave Mind, lead with a Big Heart, hold dear bonds forged along the way, persevere, and be open to new challenges and experiences.
I acknowledge teachers (Ma’am Kishnani, Ma’am Vibha Kapoor, Ma’am Rama Sharma, Ma’am Anita Nautiyal, Ma’am Bakshi, Ma’am Simi Mahajan, Ma’am Rupa Chugh, Ma’am Sangeeta Bhowmick, and many more) who instilled love for learning and leadership, Father Carvalho for reminding me to “rise above the ordinary”, naval academy for training and mentorship, and my parents’ unwavering support and pride.
Big Hearts, Brave Minds has been my guiding principle, inspiring me to serve with the navy’s core values of Duty, Honour, and Courage. I am proud to serve alongside exceptional individuals, inspired by the same values.
शं नो वरुणः! जय हिन्द!
Name: Sub Lieutenant vatsal sharma
Email ID: vatsalprajwal@gmail.com
Designation
Organization: Indian Navy
Batch: 2019 (FAS Delhi)