Sometimes, our journey is very long and full of ups and downs. We study hard, we dream big, but things don’t always go as planned. Have you ever felt that way? Like you are trying your best, but the goal still seems far away?
If you have, then you must read the story of Anuradha. She cleared the UPSC EPFO APFC exam with an All India Rank of 47. But her journey was not easy. It was full of struggles, tears, and a lot of courage. This story is not just about clearing an exam; it’s about not giving up on your dreams, even when life is very, very hard.
Let’s understand her journey, step by step, and see what we can learn from her.
A Girl from a Small Village with Big Dreams
Here’s a little about her simple and humble beginning.
Anuradha comes from a very small village where nobody even thought about civil services. In fact, she was the first girl from her village to study Science, the first girl to go to a big university like AMU, and now, the first to clear a UPSC exam. Imagine how proud her family must be!
Her father was a lecturer and her biggest supporter. He believed in her dreams.
“My father had a dream that I would do something big.”
Her family background was simple, with her sisters being housewives and her brother taking care of the home. Getting permission to move to Delhi for studies was not easy, but her father’s trust made it possible.
But her path wasn’t straight. It had many turns.
The Long and Winding Road of UPSC
This part of her story will feel very familiar to many of you.
Like many of us, Anuradha started her preparation journey with the big dream of UPSC CSE in 2017. She gave it her all. She attempted Prelims four times and even wrote Mains once. But year after year, when the final list didn’t have her name, it felt heavy. Do you know that feeling? When you study so much, but the result doesn’t show it?
Society only asks one thing: “What happened? Did you clear it?” They don’t see the hard work. Anuradha faced this too. It was a time of confusion and worry. On top of that, she had serious health issues.
“For the last two years, I was studying while lying on the bed because of my health.”
It was a very difficult time. Many people would think of stopping here. But things were about to change for her, because she made a very brave choice.
A Brave Decision: Finding a New Path (Plan B)
Here is where Anuradha teaches us a very important lesson.
After a few attempts at UPSC, Anuradha realized that maybe she needed a Plan B. This is a very hard decision for a UPSC aspirant, right? We often feel that looking at other exams will distract us. But Anuradha was smart.
In 2021, she appeared for the UPSC EPFO EO/AO exam and missed clearing it by just 2 marks. This was not a setback for her. Instead, it gave her a new hope!
“I got the confidence that if I manage it well, I can do it.”
She understood that her UPSC knowledge was a strong base, and she just needed to add a few more things to it. This is a big lesson for you, too. If one door seems difficult, maybe another door is waiting to be opened with just a little extra effort.
Now let’s see how Anuradha prepared for this new exam.
How Anuradha Made a Smart Plan for APFC
Here’s how she broke down the big syllabus into small, easy parts. The APFC exam had some new subjects. It can be scary to see new topics like Accounting or Labour Laws. But Anuradha did not panic. She made a simple, step-by-step plan.
Managing the Old and New Subjects
- Subjects from UPSC: About 75% of the syllabus was similar to UPSC, like History, Polity, and Economy. Her years of hard work for UPSC made this part strong.
- Accounting: She says, “I did not have a background in it, so I watched videos on Unacademy for the basic questions, and that was enough.”
- Labour Laws & Industrial Relations: This was new for her. She took help from a mentor who had a law background and explained it to her in a very simple, practical way.
- English: She found this section easy. How? “Reading the newspaper helps cover the English portion.” She also used basic SSC English grammar books.
Her strategy was simple: Don’t get scared by new subjects. Find a simple source and cover the basics. You don’t need to be an expert in everything. You just need to score enough marks.
But clearing the written exam was only half the battle. The next phase was even tougher for her.
The Final Test: Facing the Interview with a Heavy Heart
This part of her journey shows her true strength.
There was a long gap of almost a year between the written test and the interview. It’s very difficult to stay motivated for so long. During this time, Anuradha faced the biggest personal challenge of her life. She shared, with a heavy heart, “During my interview phase, I lost my father.”
Her biggest emotional support, the person whose dream this was, was no longer with her. It was a terrible time. But she turned her pain into her strength. She knew she had to clear this exam for her father.
For the interview, she prepared every possible question from her DAF (Detailed Application Form) and wrote the answers in a diary. She gave more than 20 mock interviews to build confidence. She even took a mock interview at EduTap, which helped her.
“The environment at EduTap felt like the real interview… The interviewers were experienced, and it gave me the feeling of facing real bureaucrats.”
She walked into the real interview with a heavy heart but a determined mind.
And then came the day she had been waiting for, for years.
The Moment of Truth: That One PDF File
Here is the emotional moment when all her hard work paid off.
When the final result PDF came out, Anuradha was too scared to open it. Can you imagine that feeling? After years of struggle, your entire future is in one click.
“I didn’t check it. I asked my mentor to check it for me. I was so scared… if I didn’t make it, I don’t know what I would have done.”
When her mentor told her that her name was on the list, she didn’t shout with joy. She just cried and cried. They were tears of relief, of happiness, and of missing her father. She said, “I just kept crying. I was missing my father.” It was the moment his dream for her came true.
Anuradha’s journey has so many lessons for us. Let’s listen to her own words.
Anuradha’s Simple Message for You
Here is some heartfelt advice directly from her.
When we asked her what she would tell other students, she shared these beautiful thoughts:
Be Consistent: Don’t stop. Just keep taking small steps every day.
Break Down Your Syllabus: “Break your syllabus into small parts… and make a daily plan that you can follow.” Don’t get overwhelmed by the big syllabus.
Hard Work Comes First: “When you do hard work, only then smart work comes.” There is no shortcut to hard work.
Keep a Positive Environment: Stay away from negative people. Talk to your family, friends, or mentors who believe in you.
Never Forget Your Dream: “Never lose sight of your dreams.”
Her journey is a powerful reminder that with a strong will, you can overcome anything.
So, what can you do, starting today?
Your Action Plan: What You Can Do Right Now
Let’s turn Anuradha’s story into your strength. If you feel stuck or confused in your preparation, here are a few things you can do, inspired by Anuradha:
1. Review Your Plan: Are you only focused on one exam? Could there be a Plan B that uses your current preparation? Think about it.
2. Break It Down: If a subject feels too big or too hard, break it into the smallest possible topics. Finish one small topic a day. You will feel a small victory every day.
3. Find Simple Resources: For new topics, don’t run after big, difficult books. Just like Anuradha watched basic videos for Accounting, find one simple source and master the basics.
4. Talk to Someone: If you feel sad or lost, talk to someone who supports you. It could be a parent, a teacher, or a good friend. Don’t keep the worries inside.
