I’ll admit it

I once thought I had failed completely. I had poured my heart and soul into preparing for the UPSC exams. I studied tirelessly, day and night, diving into books, solving endless mock tests, and dedicating every ounce of energy I had. The path was unfamiliar and challenging, but I gave it everything I could.

And yet, I didn’t succeed. It felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. I questioned everything. My abilities, my choices, and even my dreams. Failure can feel heavy, like a weight pressing down on you. At the time, I thought it was the end of the road.

But as time passed, I realized something unexpected: I hadn’t just been preparing for an exam. I had been preparing for life. My journey with UPSC taught me skills I didn’t fully appreciate at first. I learned critical thinking, the art of looking at a problem from different angles. I gained the ability to analyze diverse subjects and connect ideas across fields. And I developed a resilience I didn’t know I had.

These lessons didn’t go to waste. They became my foundation. When I applied to the London School of Economics, I leaned on what I had learned. The way I approached problems, the depth of my perspective, and my ability to think critically, all of it helped me not only secure admission to this world-renowned institution but also graduate with a Distinction.

What I once saw as failure turned out to be the stepping stone to something greater. It wasn’t the end; it was a pivot. Life has a way of redirecting us, even when it feels like we’re at a dead end.

If you’re feeling stuck because of a setback, I hope my story can remind you of this: failure in one thing doesn’t mean failure in everything. The lessons you learn, even in tough moments, might just open doors to opportunities you never imagined.

Sometimes, the road less travelled, no matter how rocky, leads you exactly where you are meant to be.