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A life built on second chances
One life, many failures, and the stubborn will to rise again
By Raghuprasad P. Halakere
I was always a topper at school — balancing academics, sports, and cultural activities with equal passion. I was the go-to participant for speeches, seminars, athletics, cricket — you name it. Along the way, I discovered a love for creative expression — writing poetry, short stories, and skits became my sanctuary.
At 14, I had a golden opportunity to chase my cricket dream. I made it to the final 50 in the Karnataka State Under-14 selection camp. However, after three grueling days of bowling, my shoulder gave in. On the decisive day, I couldn’t lift my arm properly, and I missed the final 30. Coming from a small town, reaching the top 50 was a big deal — but I knew I had the potential for more. Fate, however, had other plans.
In my pre-university days, Biology fascinated me. I dreamt of becoming a doctor. I secured a rank of around 2200 in Karnataka CET — not enough for a government medical seat. A payment seat was an option, but at ₹1.5L a year, it was beyond our financial reach. I had to let go of yet another dream.
I joined engineering with a heavy heart but continued to excel, graduating with distinction. I even got selected in a reputed MNC through campus recruitment. But then came 2009 — the year of the Great Recession. My joining letter never arrived, and neither did it for many of my batchmates. I had to join a consultancy at a meager salary — barely enough to pay my PG rent. I was dependent on my father, and guilt started creeping in. I felt like a failure.
During this phase, my father encouraged me to try for the UPSC exams. I took a leap of faith and went to Delhi for 1.5 years. While working in software consultancy, I studied diligently. My mentor, a former IPS officer, believed in my writing and articulation skills, confident they would shine in the Mains. But I missed clearing the prelims by just 2 marks. We had already spent over ₹2.5 lakhs. I had to make a tough choice — I quit the UPSC dream and returned to square one.
From being a school topper, I had then become a silent observer — avoiding friends and relatives, tired of explaining my situation. I started preparing for bank exams. I failed a few, then cleared two, and even received offer letters. But something inside me still felt unresolved — a bitterness toward the company that had selected me but never onboarded me. Summoning all my courage, I contacted the HR of that MNC and shared my story — the missed opportunity, the financial struggles, and the guilt. My honesty and persistence struck a chord. They offered me a chance. That was my turning point.
Since then, I’ve never looked back. I embraced every opportunity, made mistakes, learnt from them, wore different hats, and grew with every challenge. From Developer to Lead, Architect to Practice Director — today, I proudly serve as Senior Director, Salesforce Practice/Studio at CriticalRiver.
Over the years, I’ve also written 50+ poems in Kannada, 5+ in English, directed and acted in 3 short films, and performed in 5+ moral-based skits. Recently, I’ve begun learning to sing — a new chapter in my creative journey. If I had to summarize my life in one line: “If you fail in one, try another. If that fails too, try again — until you land on the one that lets you soar.”
