Hi friends, I’m Aniket Kumar, a 2024 pass-out from NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) in the Arts stream. My subjects were English, Mass Communication, Hindi, and Home Science etc. This blog is not just about my academic journey but a story of 17year old boy dream fulfilled by NIOS.
After completing my 11th grade, I decided to take a break from studies. Why? Because I was deeply passionate about acting. I didn’t want to lose time, so I moved to Mumbai after my training to pursue professional acting. That decision, though exciting, created a study gap. But deep down, I always knew I would continue my education.
Throughout school, I was never a topper, but always a better-than-average student who passed with decent marks. So, when I decided to complete my 12th, I started looking for CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) schools in Mumbai because I had studied under CBSE earlier and was comfortable with its syllabus.
However, every school rejected my application due to document issues and my requirement for flexible attendance (since I was also focusing on my acting career). Majority schools denied by request and some schools that were ready to accept me had fees I simply couldn't afford.
Then, one kind-hearted teacher told me about open schooling system and suggested me about Nios. I look into NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling). I did some research and realized it was a great fit. NIOS helps students complete their education without attending regular classes, which was perfect for me.
But the admission process wasn't easy. There were few centers, the process was confusing, and many so-called agents or online portals asked for high fees. Worst of all, I didn’t trust them. I almost gave up.
One day, I went back to the same teacher who had first mentioned NIOS and asked for help. She referred me to a mam who ran an institute specifically for NIOS students. I visited her, and thankfully, she was kind, supportive, and honest. She guided me through the process, and though I didn’t have all the required documents, she still helped me. By some miracle, I got admission into the NIOS September batch.
The fees were reasonable too, I completed my 12th for under ₹25,000! That mam played a huge role in my journey, and I will always be thankful to her.
Now the real struggle began.
I didn’t receive the official NIOS books even two months after admission. As a CBSE student, I was anxious about assignments and exams. I asked the mam, and she gave me some older books from previous batches. I started preparing through YouTube. Thankfully, the syllabus was easy to understand.
One thing I want every student to know: if you were even an average student in regular school, you can definitely score well in NIOS. Their exams are designed to help students pass and grow in life.
However, there's a big downside the lack of direct support. You don’t get timely updates from NIOS itself. You have to stay in touch with your admission coordinator regularly, follow up for assignments, practical dates, and admit cards. Without staying connected, you could miss deadlines and even exams.
Despite the minor disadvantages, the benefits of NIOS are life-changing:
You can study while working.
It’s affordable.
You study at your own pace.
No one forces you to attend school.
Still, society often misunderstands NIOS. When you tell someone you’re studying from NIOS, they assume you failed or weren’t good at studies. That’s not true. NIOS is also for students like me who had dreams and circumstances that didn’t allow them to attend regular school.
Today, because of NIOS, I completed my 12th with 85% and got admission to Lords Universal College of Law in Mumbai. I am chasing two dreams at once to become a successful lawyer as my mother always wanted, and to make something big in acting.
Thank you, NIOS. Without your support and flexibility, I might have been labeled a 12th fail. Instead, I am now a 12th pass law student with ambition, gratitude, and confidence.
I hope my story inspires others who feel stuck or unheard. NIOS is not just an option, it’s a second chance a more powerful one.
-Aniket Kumar||Lawbrief.in
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