"Failed in 12th, Now Earns ₹4 Lakh a Month" The Story of Anik Jain

In a world where academic performance is often mistaken as the sole ticket to success, Anik Jain’s story is a reminder that life has many paths and not all begin with good report cards. The Fall: Failing 12th Grade Anik Jain was an average student growing up in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He never considered himself academically inclined. While his peers excelled in math and science, he struggled to keep up. His true passion lay elsewhere doodling in the back of his notebooks, exploring colors, and creating digital designs on his brother’s old laptop. But in India, academic results are often treated as a measure of worth. So when Anik failed his 12th board exams, it felt like the end of the road. Friends moved on to colleges; relatives whispered behind his back. Even his parents, though supportive, were visibly disappointed. “I was shattered,” he recalls. “Not because I failed, but because I felt like I had failed everyone’s expectations.” The Turning Point: A Cheap Smartphone and a YouTube Video With no college to attend, Anik spent most of his days at home. One afternoon, while scrolling on YouTube, he stumbled across a tutorial: "Learn Photoshop Basics in Hindi." It clicked. Something inside him sparked to life. He began binge-watching free tutorials, downloading trial versions of design software, and experimenting late into the night. His old laptop lagged constantly, but he kept going. Over time, he learned not just Photoshop but Illustrator, Figma, Canva, and After Effects. First Gig: ₹250 for a Logo After six months of learning, Anik signed up on freelancing sites like Fiverr and Upwork. He offered to make logos for just ₹250 to build his portfolio. He even messaged small Instagram pages offering free work in exchange for testimonials. “My first paid gig was a logo for a homemade soap brand. It took me 7 hours. I earned ₹250, but it felt like a million bucks.” Building the Brand With every project, Anik grew in confidence. He started posting his work on Instagram and LinkedIn, writing short captions about his design thought process. Slowly, his content began to catch attention. He also invested in self-learning, buying affordable courses on Udemy, following international designers, and learning UI/UX design. His designs matured, and so did his rates. Within two years, Anik was charging ₹10,000 for logo designs, ₹50,000+ for full brand kits, and had even designed mobile app interfaces for startups in India and abroad. Today: ₹4 Lakh Per Month and Growing Now 24, Anik makes an average of ₹4 lakh per month through a mix of freelance gigs, brand collaborations, digital products (like design templates), and mentoring aspiring designers through his paid workshops. He’s collaborated with over 150 clients globally, has a following of over 70K on Instagram, and runs a YouTube channel where he teaches design for free. When asked about his 12th-grade failure, he smiles, “Failing an exam taught me the most important lesson: success isn't about marks, it's about momentum.”