The Union Public Service Commission exam can be stated as one of the toughest on Earth. Every year, thousands appear for the exam, but only a handful get into the final list. In this article by TheHinduzone, we will discuss Anisha Tomar’s Inspiring Journey: From Failures and Mental Health Struggles to Cracking UPSC. The examination requires not only intelligence and motivation to put in hard work but also lots and lots of perseverance, commitment, and the ability to handle pressure and stress. Yet, all journeys for UPSE aspirants are not the same, most of them face odds and personal difficulties, dealing with repeated failures until success is finally smiled upon them. This article narrates the inspiring story of Anisha Tomar, who overcame many hurdles, including the second and third-failure and severe mental health, making it big to become an Indian Foreign Service officer.
Early Life and Education:
Her traumatizing story is enough to show the power of grit and determination. Born and raised in India, Anisha had shown a flair for academics. This thirst for knowledge later became the basis of their accomplishments. Anisha graduated from Punjab University with a degree in engineering, and she began thinking about the UPSC Civil Services Examinations. The idea of becoming an officer and serving the country-infused her with a certain motivational thrust to pick up the gauntlet.
After completing her graduation in 2016, Anisha decided to work towards her dream of cracking the UPSC exam. Her preparation began with organizing her study material and drawing up a study plan that was to guide her for the next couple of years. But what she knew little of was that the road ahead was going to be heavily peppered with trials that were to test her determination and strength.
First Failure of Anisha Tomar
Anisha’s hop for UPSC had begun in 2017. A diligent student, she respected days and hours of preparation and an extra tight schedule. When results for shuttered orders emerged, she was broken. Anisha missed the cut-off for the preliminary exam by a close gap, unable to sit for the main exam that year. It was quite a setback since she had given it her all. Many in her circles advised her to move on and try next year, but Anisha refused to quit.
In Anisha’s view, failure was a teacher. She analyzes the entire UPSC process as a long-drawn-out struggle and achievement never came easy. So, she immediately started preparing for her second attempt, determined to go back and correct her errors so she had a higher chance of passing that time. The new plan was to study smart, on top of working hard, which she had perceived was going to facilitate her travel toward success through a long journey filled with patience, focus, and persistence.
Fighting Mental Illness
Life offered another development in Anisha’s life while she was preparing for her second shot. In February 2018, she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, wherein there is an increased pressure inside the skull. This illness led to severe headaches and other neurological symptoms, leaving Anisha physically and emotionally disturbed.
Yet she did not let the sickness stop her. Anisha was to push on with her UPSC preparations regardless of the almost paralyzing feeling of weakness and exhaustion. The long grueling months of MRIs, spinal taps, and countless medications took their toll, yet she kept her vision in the line of sight. That reminder of how she felt like she was slowly losing her strength and that the endurance test was getting to her faded away whenever she thought of her goal. Instead, she pushed herself.
Anisha’s refusal to allow her illness to take charge of her life was unreal. She strategized around managing her health, and her treatment plan, and continued her studies. Motivation flowed from her goal as she underwent physical pain and constant fatigue from her illness.
Second Attempt of UPSC
By the time it was her second try at the UPSC, Anisha was well-set in her plan for managing both her studies and her health. She was now aware of drawing a balance between her physical and mental well-being and the stress that UPSC preparation brings. With all the troubles that Anisha faced, she successfully managed to clear the preliminary examination. It was a confidence-boosting win for her because she had proven to herself that, despite her health concerns, she could still tackle and do quite well in the first stage of the exam.
But the joy was short-lived. Anisha could not pull it off in the main examinations and was just six marks short of passing it. It came like a second disillusionment. The devastation was indeed at hand. She had come so far and still failed. But instead of spiralling into infliction, Anisha took on this soul-crushing disappointment, putting it to her advantage and bolstering her determination. Having already shown that she could take obstacles head-on and fight her way through, she was ready for another bout against this setback.
The Final Attempt
Anisha left nothing to chance on her third attempt: She completely reworked her study plan, giving attention to areas where she had stumbled before. She meticulously analyzed every little detail with the full knowledge that this time, failure was not an option. In tandem with her preparation, she continued to focus on her medical treatment and physical health. It was months of toil that paid off-Anisha cleared the UPSC examination with flying colors. In 2019, she received an All India Rank 94-an accomplishment that opened the doors for her into the Indian Foreign Service. It was the moment she had long been preparing for. The feeling of satisfaction, of having taken joy in conquering all odds, and the stark awareness of the fulfilment of a dream were beyond description.
Anisha’s success story is beyond academics. It is about the strength of a human character. It is about her persistence against all odds in the presence of multiple failures and debilitating challenges to her health. It is about resilience, grit, and a burning faith in oneself.
Conclusion
Certainly, numerous stories testify to hard work, will, and perseverance, but Anisha Tomar’s story is unique. The path was not any less difficult for Anisha to become an IFS officer, but one of the most rewarding journeys in her life. As per Anisha, failure is not an end; it is the first step toward success. She taught that mental health struggles must not come in the way of fulfilling one’s dreams. Yes, with the right mindset and support, the impossible is also impossible.
The story that serves hope for one and all, especially people aspiring to take the UPSC exam, that failure does not equate to being a loser but measures how well one can pull through tough times and eventually come out on top. Shoving aside all odds means going beyond even the point where success seems far away. Anisha Tomar is now posted as an IFS officer, in the International Foreign Services Department dealing with the country and international relations. Her success story shows that nothing is impossible when it comes to hard work, long spirit, and even positive thinking.
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