Ninad Waingankar

From local roots to global goals

Ninad joined Abhyudaya in 2012 when he was in Year 7. At the time, he was excelling academically and enjoying school life.

“Abhyudaya broadened my perspective and made me realise that life extends far beyond the walls of a classroom. Despite having to wake up early on Sundays, weekend classes with activities such as communication, science, painting, football, and music made it worthwhile.”

One of the most impactful aspects of Abhyudaya was its mentoring programme. Ninad’s mentors provided him with invaluable insights into life and career choices. Many of them continue to inspire and support him even today.

“I was fortunate to receive an opportunity to attend the Global Youth Leadership Summit 2016 in the USA through Abhyudaya. This experience further shaped my journey, eventually leading me to get involved with Lions Clubs and later join the Leo Club.”

Ninad studied in a Marathi-medium school, and everything was going smoothly until he was unexpectedly transferred to a convent school, where the medium of instruction changed to semi-English/English.

“I remember being very upset about this decision, especially because I wasn’t informed in advance. I missed my old school, my friends, and the familiar environment. However, thanks to Abhyudaya’s weekend classes, I was able to adapt quickly. Many students struggle with the language barrier and find it difficult to grasp subjects when transitioning from high school to junior college, especially in science streams. Looking back, I now realise that changing schools was an underrated yet life-changing decision—one that I was too young to fully understand at the time.”

Ninad attributes his success in junior college and his ability to pursue engineering to being forced to change schools, which turned English into an asset.

He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunication and joined Infineon in 2022. After working for over two years in the semiconductor industry in Bengaluru, he decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and IT from OVGU Magdeburg, Germany.

“I made this decision because I believe that having in-depth knowledge of the industry you work in is essential for long-term success. Pursuing a master’s degree after gaining work experience has given me a clearer perspective on the field and its practical applications.”

Ninad’s goal is to successfully complete his master’s degree while enhancing his skills and expertise in the embedded domain.