Entrance exams can be overwhelming. Let’s put it this way—entrance exams are a nightmare! If you’re here, it means you’ve either walked this thorny path before or are already on it. We’ve all heard our elders and experts say that to achieve success, we must choose the difficult path. But is that really true? Is the road to success always the tougher one? Why shouldn’t we choose the path less traveled? Even if we do pick our path, do our Herculean efforts truly get rewarded? I don’t think so!
In India, a graduate degree alone is often deemed inadequate. The corporate industry almost brands you as an unskilled, inexperienced fresher, unworthy of managing six figures in a bank account. Seventy-eight years after independence, India is still economically colonized by MNCs that exploit cheap labor, simply because the exorbitant costs of higher education remain an unattainable dream for many. The price of attaining higher education in India is like paying a premium subscription for a premium degree. The income and expense graphs in India are anything but parallel—one relentlessly climbing north while the other plunges south.
Pursuing an MBA costs a fortune. Aspiring engineers often end up in precarious, low-paying startups because they couldn’t afford a B.Tech degree from a reputed university. It pains me to see that notable companies don’t even bother scouting talent from colleges that aren’t government-backed or part of the IITs–IIMs elite circle.
Thus begins the cutthroat race for that one top-tier college—a race where someone will crush you the moment you stop to catch your breath. The key to success in a single attempt lies in sheer resoluteness and unwavering perseverance. This journey is so mentally and emotionally draining that, with each step forward, we seem to lose a piece of ourselves.
Let’s not forget the innumerable hurdles along the way. Keeping one’s morale high is a constant struggle because the moment it wavers, it’s game over. We cling to inspiring narratives that keep us going. For some, music lifts their spirits; for others, movies work like magic. Some find motivation in role models, while for many, the fear of being left behind is the greatest driving force.
This process is a battle on two fronts—one against the world, and one against ourselves. Midday crashes demand constant caffeine boosts, and the guilt of a day out with friends lingers for hours. We fall into the vicious cycle of comparing ourselves with our peers, questioning whether our efforts are enough.
We become mere spectators, like a bird peering from its cage, waiting to flap its own wings someday. The wait is endless, but the hope is limited. In such times, we often forget the most important thing, to keep steering no matter what, because our boats are not the same, our waters are not the same.
Yet, despite it all, the time spent studying doesn’t seem that long because we are constantly adapting, evolving, and improving. In moments like these, even a slight pat on the back feels like conquering the world—as if that one small gesture of appreciation is what we, as aspirants, truly study day and night for.