Despite my parents being unenthusiastic about this idea, I chose to pursue my ambitions. I knew that if I missed an opportunity at this point in my life, I will never get another one. But pursuing any dream, especially one that requires dedication and hard work gets even more challenging when your loved ones are skeptic about it. I had to go ahead with my aspirations alone. I prepared for CAT 2018 like my life depended on it. I practiced problems on the 1.5-hour long train rides to and from my office. I spent weekends improving on my weak areas, though the previous week was hectic with work and commute. There were days when the stress got so overwhelming that I would almost give up. But if there was anything that this one year of preparation taught me, I would say it was RESILIENCE. No matter how many factors like lack of time, lack of encouragement from loved ones etc., put me down I chose to push back harder. The sheer determination to choose a career I was passionate about, to be financially independent and to live life on my terms were the biggest drives that kept me going.
My undeterred focus on my goal eventually convinced my parents that I meant business (In this case literally!). I had won the battle when my father accompanied me to most of my interviews. With every confirmation call I got from BSchools my confidence grew. One life changing examination and several interviews later, here I am typing out this experience with a smile on my face. One of my mentors always told me, “Don’t expect Extraordinary results without Extraordinary effort”. The satisfaction of great results after all the ups and downs is incomparable.
Most women in our country face similar situations when they decide to break societal norms. Some give up. Some just power through. With each barrier a woman breaks, India gets one step closer to becoming a super power.
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