So, I decided to travel to Egypt, solo! That was unthinkable not just to my extended family but even to me. After all, I was a small town Marwari girl with no exposure to how the world works. But when you challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone, life can show you surprises and the same thing happened with me. I ended up spending 45 days in Egypt, travelled to 12 cities, and made friends from 15 countries. I started travel blogging since I had past exposure in content writing and digital marketing and started to write for publications and start-ups.
My passion for travel and adventure turned into a new meaning for life. It gave me the confidence I needed to pick myself up from the shatters. I did more than 10 trips that year, sometimes with family, sometimes solo. As I travelled across places, it’s the myriad experiences that I still reflect upon every single day. From scuba diving in the abundant waters of Red Sea for 5 continuous days to hot air ballooning over the ancient temples of Egypt, from trekking in the deep forests of Andamans to hiking up the dreamy Tiger Nest in Bhutan, I did it all. But more than anything else, I transformed, I revived, and I evolved.
CAT 2018 was approaching fast. I knew that I had to give my all to my preparation. I had no job at hand and in that scenario, peer pressure can really get on to your head! I remember how I would take innumerable sectional tests and mock tests to strategize for the D-Day. I would lock myself in a room for days and study hard. Sometimes, I even solved LR questions in my dream. The thing is I had no other choice and I would admit, I had fallen in love with Analytical Reasoning. I solved Sarvesh Verma twice, took 100+ sectional tests and 25 mock tests, solved the whole portal of TIME ad IMS, watched and solved all Elitegrid videos on Youtube. In the week before CAT, I remember going to IMS centre for a counselling session. There, Dwijendra Sir told me that I was good at LR but I was ignoring DI completely in my mocks! In that week, I solved 110 DI sets! You must be wondering how I remember the numbers so clearly. Because I was that obsessed to crack CAT this time!
The D-Day arrived and again, I headed for something destructive. I was wearing warm clothes and the air conditioner in the test centre didn’t work. After the VARC section, I was sweating and I felt like I would faint. One of the invigilators stood beside me for the next 2 hours to check on me. I had only one option – give my best. Nonetheless, although I thought I have messed up my life yet again, I got 97.22% in CAT. I took other exams as well and fortunately flared in all of them. I had calls from XLRI, IIFT, MICA, SIBM, MDI, new IIMs, and IIM Shillong. I converted MDI, new IIMs and SIBM and finally joined MDI Gurgaon. The day I got this news of converting MDI, I could see the happiness in my parent’s eyes. And in that moment, all that mattered to me were those valuable tears in my mom’s eyes.
As I mentioned, I was into content writing in my graduation years and I believe the most powerful medium to convey anything is stories. From my very preparation days, I wanted to write stories at InsideIIM and I can’t tell how happy I feel today for having written my own story. It’s a dream because with all the struggles, my preparation journey is my love story!
I am still highly passionate about travel and went to Uttarakhand, Indonesia, and Rajasthan after joining MDI Gurgaon and I regularly blog about my travel journeys at www.thewandergirl.in and at my travel page on Instagram. Of course, the frequency has reduced for something much more but I have learnt how to not compromise on my dreams and passion for materialistic things in life. Hopefully, this learning will take me to many more places in the future days! You can contact me for any travel tips and I would be happy to help.
Comments
R C
Hii Pratibha, highly motivational story indeed. You are lucky enough to travel so much and finance your trips. It isn't possible for everyone who loves travelling. Keep rocking!!
19 May 2020, 10.46 AM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks! I agree I was fortunate enough in that.
19 May 2020, 03.31 PM |
kanan gupta
I have known Pratibha for almost a year now. This article truly reflects the passion and grit of her. Other than the amazing marketing skills, she is a great photographer and gives some amazing travel goals.
19 May 2020, 12.21 PM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks a lot Kanan! Always fun to discuss with you our travel tales.
19 May 2020, 03.31 PM |
Ruchika Badesra
Ruchika Badesra is a student of Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. She is an Electronics and Communication Engineer and wishes to pursue her career in management. She is passionate about art & crafts and dance.
Hey Pratibha! Not everyone has the guts to get out of their comfort zone and follow their passion. You have got it. Keep going girl! Live your life.
19 May 2020, 12.29 PM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks a lot Ruchika! This means a lot :)
19 May 2020, 03.31 PM |
Adarsh Ranjan
Adarsh is a second year MBA candidate at MDI Gurgaon. Having worked as a manager at Tata Steel and Mahindra&Mahindra for close to 4 years, he has developed an innate love for HR. His passion for HR has made him bag several accolades including that of being the national winner at the annual HR conference of XLRI. He is an avid reader, a proud speaker, a footloose traveller, an automobile enthusiast and definitely one you’d like to clink your beers with.
You are a true warrior! I am sure this story will inspire many other similar aspirants to not just ace the management entrance exams but lead life in much better ways. All the best !!
19 May 2020, 12.36 PM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks a lot Adarsh! Means a lot. :)
19 May 2020, 03.32 PM |
Diksha Miglani
Amazing ❤️
19 May 2020, 01.09 PM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks a lot Diksha! :)
19 May 2020, 03.32 PM |
Anubhab Saha
Hello Pratibha, thank you so much for sharing such a highly motivating story from your life. I am at a similar juncture in my life and you have no idea how much I was thinking the same of taking a break for a year, as I feel I'm mentally drained and need a break due to my mental health issues. However I have a question, you said you started your CAT prep in your 3rd year and you gave your first cat in 2017 by that time you were in the middle of your fourth year if I'm not wrong, you then again had your successful attempt at CAT in 2018 by that time you were just fresh few months out of college. So you had travelled during your final semester in engineering by my estimates. How were you able to manage your final semester and traveling and cat preparation and everything together. I'm eagerly looking forward to your reply, please help and guide a brother in need. Loads of love. Ps- love your blogs
19 May 2020, 03.44 PM
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pratibha goenka
Hi Anubhab. Yes you are very much right. I traveled in my last semester as I didn't have to go to classes much. After my graduation, I went to Egypt for 1.5 months. Coming back, i started to prepare for CAT and also prepared for it briefly while at Egypt. Then as soon as CAT and other exams were over, before results came and interviews started, I traveled to other places. During this time, I was also preparing for my GD PI along with traveling. Yes, it is important we talk openly about mental issues. If you feel drained, there is no harm taking a break. But you must also prepare very hard for CAT as the success is the best way out of the condition. It brings many possibilities and really heals you. Hope it helps! Let me know if I can help you in any way.
19 May 2020, 04.08 PM |
Robert Hsu
Wonderful read as expected from you. I think this could serve as a good guide on how a change in perspective, self confidence and sheer focus could pull you out of even your worst failure. Glad to know your story :) Robert
19 May 2020, 09.05 PM
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pratibha goenka
Thanks a lot Robert. Your appreciation always means a lot Robert!
19 May 2020, 10.10 PM |
Dipsikha Damani
Can't wait to travel with you again!!
20 May 2020, 01.51 PM
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pratibha goenka
Same here! Hope it happens very soon!
20 May 2020, 06.08 PM |