Growing up in a typical Bengali family meant an unconscious bonding with science. From an early age, the need to study science was always a thought that lingered at the back of the head. Automatically, I registered as a science student in school. Let me tell you here that I was a mediocre student. I never aspired to get A grades- it just wasn't my cup of tea. But science was something I loved, I understood. I carried on slogging and dragging myself through the physics and chemistry class. It was biology that was really my only focus. Fortunately, I did well and got through one of the best programs in Kolkata- Microbiology in Lady Brabourne College. It wasn't like a dream. To be honest, I had never spend a second thinking what I wanted to study. I just wanted to get through in some college that wouldn't cost my parents a fortune.
Microbiology is the best thing that happened to me. I bounded with the subject. I understood it. But never did well in the university exams. Afterall, the only thing the University tests is your capacity to memorize topics. I had no capability for it. I focused on the concepts and basics and so should you. If you learn to drawn the connections, you are good to go. Ask yourself this, do you know why DNA concentration is measured at 260 nm? If you can answer thing, you concepts of valency shells, energy packets, energy absorption and emission, Lambert Beer's Law are clear.
I did fairly well in my University and then managed to get into the Integrated PhD program of IISER Kolkata. I did not intend to join but there was this one person- my future advisor- who changed things for me. I sat in a freezing room giving my interview and there I was asked, "Please explain why acetone is not used in Gram staining". I explained all I could. The interview was over. It was a disaster. While I was walking down the stairs, this Professor comes running down and starts to explain how Gram staining works. That was the "moment". Afterall, who wouldn't join a place where professors are so dedicated!
And thus began the journey. A masters followed by a three year PhD. Long hours, extended field trips, never-ending experiments, manuscript writing.....and finally a degree in 2019. But a PhD is not a degree. The sooner you understand that, the better a scientist you will become.