Coming from a JEE Background — How Liberal Arts and Sciences Reshaped My Perspective
From JEE to Liberal Arts: Finding My Footing
Coming from a JEE-focused background, I had always imagined engineering to be the most natural and secure path forward. Like many students in India, I grew up surrounded by the culture of entrance exams, coaching institutes, and the deeply ingrained belief that success was inseparable from technical fields. At the same time, however, I was always curious beyond the boundaries of Mathematics and Science. I genuinely enjoyed discussions, sports, History, Philosophy, and understanding how people and societies think and function.
An Unconventional Path
Choosing Krea University over a conventional engineering route initially felt risky, especially when people around me kept asking, “What job will you get?” or “Why leave JEE after preparing so hard for it?” That pressure is real, and anyone who has navigated it will understand the weight of those questions.
What drew me to Krea University was the academic flexibility it offered, something I had rarely encountered in traditional systems. Until then, I believed higher education required committing to one fixed direction very early in life. Liberal arts introduced me to a space where multiple interests could genuinely coexist. I could continue engaging with analytical subjects while also exploring social sciences, communication, critical thinking, and interwoven learning.
A Different Way of Thinking
The most significant shift for me was moving from a system focused primarily on solving problems quickly to one that encouraged asking deeper questions. Liberal arts pushed me to think independently, communicate clearly, analyse diverse perspectives, and connect ideas across disciplines. The classroom experience was no longer limited to memorisation or standardised answers; it demanded active participation, writing, research, and genuine reflection.
Initially, the transition felt unfamiliar. Liberal arts offered far more freedom and self-direction compared to the structured nature of competitive exam preparation. But over time, that freedom became one of its greatest strengths. It allowed me to develop adaptability, confidence in communication, and the ability to work across different domains rather than remaining confined to a single specialisation. I attended Economics courses alongside students from entirely different majors, and an Agriculture course where classmates came from Environmental Sciences, Economics, and Biology. That kind of cross-disciplinary exposure quietly changed the way I approach problems.
Of Meaningful Impact
Building a Business That Understands People
One of the most meaningful outcomes of this education has been its direct impact on my entrepreneurial journey with STEM Sparks Education, my MSME-registered education venture. Running an education business requires far more than subject knowledge alone. Every day, I interact with parents, counsel students, understand their academic concerns, and help them identify support in subjects where they struggle.
My exposure to sociology and the social sciences has genuinely helped me understand where families are coming from, their aspirations, anxieties, financial considerations, social pressures, and expectations around education. It has made me more empathetic and more effective when communicating with both students and parents.
Communication as a Career Asset
My communication skills improved considerably during this period, something that was noticeably acknowledged by my school teachers and principals. The ability to articulate ideas clearly, listen actively, and adapt my communication style to different audiences proved to be a genuine professional asset. These skills, developed through years of liberal arts coursework and real-world application, helped me perform confidently in interviews and build lasting relationships with clients and collaborators.
Running the Full Stack of a Business
Krea also strengthened my ability to multitask and adapt across roles. Beyond teaching, I independently manage multiple aspects of the business: designing my website, running digital marketing campaigns to reach potential clients in India and abroad, handling day-to-day operations and transactions, coordinating staff, conducting counselling sessions, and teaching students directly. The interwoven mindset I developed through liberal arts made it considerably easier to move fluidly between analytical work, communication, management, creativity, and problem-solving — often within the same day.
Not a Departure, but an Expansion
Where STEM and Liberal Arts Meet
My foundation in Mathematics and Science gave me analytical discipline and precision of thought, while liberal arts gave me the tools to understand people, communicate with clarity, navigate complex systems, and adapt to changing circumstances. Together, these two worlds shaped not only the way I learn, but also the way I build and run an organisation in the real world.
The question people once asked — “What job will you get?” — now has a clear answer. But more than any single role or title, what I gained was a way of thinking that I carry into every room I enter.
By
Harinandan Singh
SIAS Alum Cohort of 2019-23
