The scene was a 9th-grade PTA meeting. After all the other parents had departed, the Principal summoned Advin’s mother alone into the staff room, where the teachers sat in a row. The verdict delivered was devastating: "He is behind in everything; he is a bad influence on other children; he has no future..." Finally, the Principal declared, "In the end, he will turn into a criminal!"

These are the poignant lines from a recent Instagram post shared by Advin Roy Netto, a native of Alappuzha. To those passionate about product and visual design, Advin is a familiar name; today, he serves as a Lead Designer at Google. Many may also recognise him from another viral video four years ago, which reached nearly six million viewers.

A journey from tears to triumph

That previous video captured the emotional moment Advin shared the joy of securing a job at Google with his mother and wife after an eight-year wait.

Advin’s story stands as a powerful critique of an education system that still insists on measuring every child with the same scale—the mark sheet. He vividly remembers that day his mother sat weeping in front of his teachers, noting in his post that there was every reason for his spirit to have been crushed then.

Advin recalls the deep hurt caused when other parents, believing the teachers' words, forbade their children from associating with him. In his view, comparing children to others does not help them grow; rather, it destroys them. Now a father to a three-year-old son, Advin asserts that children do not grow according to a pre-determined script and are often beautifully unpredictable.

From Alappuzha to Google: Redefining success

 

When those around him, including his teachers, saw no potential, it was only the energy Advin gave himself that sustained him. He argues in his post that the idea of "improving" children through the fear of comparison is a mere myth; they can only truly flourish through love and support.
 

Advin concludes his viral post with the triumphant statement, "I didn’t become a criminal." His reflection has prompted a wave of comments from others sharing similar harrowing experiences from their school days.

Advin Roy Netto completed his BA in Animation and Graphic Design at St Joseph College of Communication in Changanassery, proving that talent and tenacity far outweigh a school's early labels.