From a modest village to mentoring thousands of future administrators, Dr. Boominathan shares a powerful narrative on how the civil services journey is more than just an exam — it’s a mental and moral transformation. Through moving real-life stories of perseverance, failure, and purpose, this talk explores how the path to public service molds leaders who not only change their own lives, but shape the future of the nation. Boominathan Muthuramu is an educationist and Director at KingMakers IAS Academy. With a deep commitment to social justice and community development, he has been instrumental in producing over 1,000 civil servants, including IAS, IPS, IFS, and IRS officers. His work has reached over five lakh youth across Tamil Nadu, raising awareness about government policies, job opportunities, and careers in State and Central Civil Services.Previously, he served as a Senior Superintending Officer in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Government of India, from 1999 to 2020. He specializes in subjects like Indian Economy and History, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics. His academic background includes an M.Phil. from the Centre for Research on New International Economic Order, an M.A. from DG Vaishnav College, and a B.A. from Presidency College. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx