They Said Don’t Do Science. I Did It Anyway

I built a fully controllable acoustic levitator—moving objects in 3D using sound.

1. Who I Am & How It Started

A quick intro: me, my studies, and what I do now

I am Yashovardhan Bamalwa. I studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Rutgers University. I now work in my family’s jewellery business, focusing on building systems and procedures in a traditionally unorganized industry.

The “distracted” kid in class

Teachers often saw me as distracted and disinterested. I struggled in most subjects, especially with memorization, and assumed I wasn’t interested in studying at all.

Feeling underestimated

Yes. I always thought I would attend St. Xavier’s Kolkata and then join the family business, as many in my family had. That seemed fine until Class 11, when my sister went to Boston University. I realized there were bigger opportunities if I applied myself. I knew I was capable but not putting in effort. Once I started studying properly, my grades improved significantly.

2. The Big Decision: Science vs Commerce

Everyone said “Go Commerce” — here’s why

Almost everyone outside my family and close friends told me to choose Commerce. They thought it fit better with the business and that my science grades weren’t strong enough.

Why I still picked Science anyway

My genuine interest in science. I had won almost every science fair I entered, sometimes even handing extra projects to friends who then won in other categories. I preferred hands-on work over rote exams. I also felt Science was more logical and less dependent on memorization compared to Commerce.

Building and Launching my own rocket

3. Surviving (and Thriving) in Classes 11 & 12

How I turned things around in senior school

Much better than earlier years. I improved steadily each semester by focusing only on Math, Physics, and CS. I figured it was smarter to excel in these than to spread myself thin across all subjects.

What people said once I chose Science

Once I chose Science, most people became supportive. Several teachers changed their perception of me, which boosted my confidence.

4. My College Rollercoaster

From CS → Physics → ECE → CS+ECE (yep, I switched a lot)

I entered Rutgers as a CS major. After a year, I missed the tangible side of science, so I switched to Physics. A semester later, I realized my real interest was in Electricity and the EM spectrum, so I moved to Electrical Engineering. Eventually, I combined both interests and declared a double major in ECE and CS.

Was college tougher than school?

Much easier. I excelled in most classes related to my field.

How studying abroad changed the game

Yes. I appreciated the flexibility to choose courses and even switch majors multiple times while still graduating on time. The system valued understanding over memorization, which suited me better.

My wild final-year project story

My final year project. I built a fully controllable acoustic levitator—moving objects in 3D using sound. Three days before the presentation, the FPGA broke. We rebuilt the project overnight and still presented successfully, winning second place and best in research.

Me getting 2nd place for my University Final Project

5. What I Learned Along the Way

Was Science worth it?

Absolutely. I don’t think I would have thrived in Commerce.

The traits that actually helped me succeed

Curiosity and finding genuine motivation. Once you’re truly interested, half the battle is won.

How the whole journey changed me

It taught me that consistent effort leads to results. Better to put in the work early than to panic at the last minute.

My advice for anyone doubting there abilities and are scared to study what they love

If you enjoy it, pursue it. Just commit to the work it requires.

My with my the Potato launching bazooka I made

6. Looking Back Now

Would I make the same choices again?

Yes, though I would work harder in school and aim for a better college.

From “weak student” to engineer — how that feels

It feels unreal. My turnaround surprised even my family, and I’m sure many of my teachers would never believe I double-majored in CS and ECE, two of the toughest programs.

The one takeaway I want you to remember

Identify what you’re good at, work relentlessly on it, and use every resource available.