5 powerful lessons students can learn from Shubhanshu Shukla’s remarkable journey

What drives someone to dream of space—not metaphorically, but literally?Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot turned astronaut, recently created history by becoming the first Indian to live aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 14 days as part of NASA’s Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4).

His journey from a school in Lucknow to orbiting Earth is not just the stuff of headlines—it’s a powerful real-life masterclass for students in ambition, resilience, and purpose.Here’s a deep dive into his remarkable path and the five transformative lessons every student can take from it.

1. Believe in your dream, even if no one else does

Shubhanshu was born in Lucknow and studied at City Montessori School, known for its academic rigor. While others celebrated birthdays and festivals, he was already setting his sights sky-high.

Inspired by the 1999 Kargil War, he secretly began preparing for the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam—even skipping his own sister’s wedding to focus on it.Student takeaway:Your dream doesn’t need instant validation. Not everyone will understand your ambition. What matters is how fiercely you believe in it—and how consistently you work toward it.

2. A strong academic base opens extraordinary doors

After clearing the UPSC NDA entrance, Shukla graduated with a BSc in Computer Science.

But he didn’t stop there. He went on to earn an MTech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru—one of India’s top research institutions.IISc has ranked among the top in India and the world for its research output. This academic strength made him an ideal candidate for both the ISRO Gaganyaan programme and international astronaut training.Student takeaway:Don’t chase just the “easiest” course—chase the one that challenges you to grow.

A strong education, paired with passion, becomes your launchpad—sometimes quite literally.

3. Discipline and adaptability go hand in hand

Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, Shukla flew over 2,000 hours on some of the most advanced fighter jets, including Su-30 MKIs. But he didn’t just fly aircraft—he continued learning and evolving. Between 2020 and 2021, he underwent astronaut training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, followed by further sessions in India and the U.S.His journey from pilot to astronaut proves one thing: Discipline builds consistency, but adaptability ensures progress.Student takeaway:Your ability to be disciplined and flexible—to follow through while also evolving—is what will keep you ahead in life’s most challenging moments.

4. Don’t fear uncharted paths, create them

Shukla was handpicked in 2019 to join the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, and by 2025, became the prime astronaut-pilot on the Axiom Space-NASA-ISRO collaboration.

This made him India’s first astronaut in 40 years, since Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission in 1984.He didn’t just accept the unknown—he pioneered it.Student takeaway:There won’t always be a “safe route” laid out. Sometimes, you’ll have to make the bold choice that feels uncertain. But often, that’s the path that leads to greatness.

5. Use your platform to inspire and uplift others

During his 14-day mission aboard the ISS, Shukla isn’t just conducting five groundbreaking experiments with NASA in space biology and agriculture—he’s also scheduled to interact live with students across India, answering their questions and encouraging young minds to pursue STEM careers.This is leadership at its most inspiring—not just achieving for yourself, but lifting others as you rise.Student takeaway:No matter how far you go, remember to give back. Success becomes legacy when it empowers others to succeed too.S

hubhanshu Shukla’s journey proves that nothing—be it geography, expectation, or gravity—can hold back someone with a clear goal, relentless discipline, and a learning mindset.

As a student, you may not be planning a spacewalk anytime soon. But you can adopt his mindset.In the story of Shubhanshu Shukla, we don’t just see an astronaut. We see what happens when a student decides to never stop learning—even beyond the stars.