This is an open letter from an MBA student to a CAT aspirant. This isn’t a letter to an unknown person. But the words a senior friend of mine passed onto me and which I am passing down to you all.
You must be excited? Or just exhausted? Or maybe scared and sweaty!
Believe me, I was all this a year ago. Looking back, it all feels so amazing. Just a few days more left, hold on and the DAY will be around the corner. So here are some things I as someone who was right there last year to someone who is there this year would like to say.
1. Just hold it - it ain’t that far
This is the time when you may start doubting yourself and instead of keeping yourself together you may start falling apart. Just believe in yourself and have faith in your hard work. You came this far not to give up now. So, hold it together with a little longer.
2. Bring back the lost passion
Ignite the fire again and fight back. You are way stronger than you ever thought you are, just believe in yourself. This is the most precious time and you need to stay strong to fight and beat the odds. You are a winner. Bring back the fire within.
3. Yes, it can be done
Nothing in the world is impossible. You can do it, you must do it and you will do it. Success is nothing but a tasty soup of hard work, optimism and sincerity. I agree, ingredients are a little sour but the soup will be just fine if made with precision.
4. Failures are the steps of success
Failure is nothing but the only way to succeed. Failures can either pave the way to success or leave crippled for life. It’s up to us what we think of them as. I personally feel, failures are a part of the process and skipping them would just make you unaware of the other side of the coin. So, failure is just an obstacle which can halt your journey for a while, but do not let it leave scars forever.
5. The journey is what matters
Preparation for any exam is a journey, which I bet would have taught you a lot more than you’d have learnt sitting idle. Maybe not this year then next year, but yes you will end up somewhere you fit completely. Believe in the bigger picture and know for a fact you will be fine anyway. This will not be the end of the world, even if you fail tomorrow, get up and fight back and return a winner.
In the end, I would just say that we all are fighting our own battles, inside and outside. We all have been underdogs at some point or the other but what differentiates is the will to keep on fighting and emerge as a winner. Don’t let your anxiety ruin your hard work when you need it the most. And enjoy the rollercoaster ride ahead :)
All the best. Make it count!