Have you ever looked at your life and wondered, Why is everything changing when I had such clear plans? If yes, then you’re not alone. I felt the same when I read about Mr. Sujin Krishna NR. His journey to clearing the UPSC EPFO EO/AO exam isn’t just about study plans or strategies. It’s about adjusting when life shifts direction. It’s about making peace with Plan B, without giving up on Plan A.
“Sometimes, you plan one thing, but life takes you somewhere else, and that’s okay.”
Let me walk you through his story. You might just see yourself in it.
Sometimes, we take a different route even when our heart quietly whispers another direction.
Before UPSC: When You Start With One Dream, But Choose Another
Sujin grew up in Kerala with a strong academic background. He finished his B.Tech in Naval Architecture and got placed in a job abroad. His family, especially his father, who worked in the police, believed in stability. So, even though Sujin dreamt of UPSC, he listened when his father said, “Get a solid education. Have a backup plan.”
And he did.
He accepted a job in Dubai, started earning early, and stood on his own feet by 22. But deep down, his heart hadn’t forgotten that original dream – UPSC.
If you’re someone who chose a “safe” path because your parents asked you to, or because it made sense at the time, then you know exactly how Sujin must have felt. It’s tough, loving your choices, but still longing for something more.
There’s a moment in every journey where you have to make a hard decision. For Sujin, that moment came when he had to choose between comfort in Dubai and the risk of starting over in India.
He chose the risk.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Early Struggles and Setbacks: Leaving a Good Job Isn’t Easy
Sujin came back home, not because it was easy, but because he couldn’t ignore that voice in his head anymore.
“My friends laughed. Some said I was mad to leave Dubai. But I had to try,” he said.
Luckily, his father stood by him. He even urged him to come back sooner and start preparing. That support made all the difference.
Sujin gave his first attempt at UPSC CSE, and cleared prelims, even wrote mains. But things didn’t stay on that high. The next year, he couldn’t get through prelims. That’s when it hit him hard.
“When I didn’t get the result I expected, I felt lost. My friends were moving ahead, and I was stuck.”
Have you ever had that moment? When you try with all your heart, and things don’t go the way you thought they would? If yes, I want you to keep reading, because Sujin’s story shows what happens when you don’t stop there.
Mindset Change: From Overconfidence to Smart Planning
Sometimes, we have to stumble a bit before we realize what’s missing.
Sujin admitted something many of us feel but don’t say, “I was overconfident.” After clearing UPSC prelims once, he thought he knew enough. But that confidence didn’t help him with newer patterns and changes.
That’s when he decided to stop bragging and start planning smarter.
He made one big change; he didn’t just chase UPSC anymore. He looked at other options like EPFO, PSUs, and similar exams. Not because he gave up, but because he didn’t want to stand still.
Isn’t that powerful? He didn’t change his goal; he widened his path.
So if you’re stuck in one exam cycle, feeling like it’s the only way – maybe it’s time to step back, just like Sujin did, and ask yourself: Is there another route that will still take me forward?
Now here’s where Sujin really showed what smart preparation looks like.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
3-Week of Preparation: Using Less Time, But Using It Well
Sujin had only 3 weeks to prepare for UPSC EPFO EO/AO. Most people would panic. But Sujin didn’t. He focused on what matters most.
Here’s what he did:
- Chose high-scoring, easy topics first
- Didn’t waste time on very tough parts (like hard accountancy problems)
- Made tiny notes that fit into just half of a 100-page notebook
- Focused on revision, not reading everything blindly
- Used his UPSC GS foundation and added only what was absolutely needed (like computer, labour law)
“I picked topics that give more marks and are easy to score. No point wasting time on the rest,” he said.
You and I – we often believe we need 6 months, 1 year, or more to be fully prepared. But Sujin proved that even 3 focused weeks can be enough if you play it smart.
It’s not just how you study, but how you attempt the paper that matters.
In the Exam and Interview: Letting Honesty Be Your Strength
Sujin didn’t go all out trying to answer every question. He attempted only what he knew, then went back for others later. This balance between speed and accuracy helped him avoid unnecessary mistakes.
But it was the interview where his honesty truly stood out.
By then, Sujin had a PSU job, family duties, and barely any time to read newspapers. When the interview panel asked questions he didn’t know, he said:
“Sorry sir, I haven’t read the paper today.”
That takes courage.
Instead of bluffing, he explained what he did know. That sincerity won the panel’s trust.
If you’ve ever felt like you can’t prepare “perfectly” for every part, remember, being genuine can go further than pretending to know everything.
No journey is ever walked alone, and Sujin had a strong support system behind him.
Support: Family, Teachers, and EduTap
Sujin’s father never gave up on him, even when things were uncertain.
“Even when I made mistakes, my father told me to try once more,” Sujin shared.
For his interview prep, EduTap played a key role. He got real-time feedback, learned how to listen, how to present himself, and how to stay calm. And the most surprising part? One of the questions from the mock interview actually came in the real one.
So if you’re someone who feels alone in your preparation, please reach out. Ask for help. Find mentors. Even one good teacher, like Mahesh Sir from EduTap, can shift your entire journey.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Motivation and Real-Life Tips: Finding Joy in Helping Others
With a degree in hand and overseas job experience, Sujin could have easily gone back to Dubai. But he chose not to. Why?
Because he found joy in helping others.
He grew up watching his father work in the police. Seeing him help people left a deep mark on him. “I get satisfaction when I do something useful for others,” Sujin says. Even now, his ultimate dream is still to become an IPS officer.
What stayed with me the most was this line:
“If you aim high, you may not reach it, but you’ll land somewhere good. Just don’t stop.”
And that’s the point, isn’t it?
Even if your journey shifts, even if the dream gets reshaped, it still counts. It still takes you somewhere meaningful.
Key Learnings and Action Plan: What You Can Do Next
If you’re still reading this, I want you to pause for a second and ask yourself: What’s the one thing I’m taking from this story?
Let me help you gather the key pieces:
- Start with a dream, but don’t fear a backup
- Overconfidence can hurt more than doubt
- Three weeks can change everything if you’re focused
- Honesty beats show-off, especially in interviews
- Mock interviews and mentors matter – find them
- Don’t measure success by salary alone. Find work that feels right
- Keep your dream alive, no matter what path you’re on
Above all, keep going. Just like Sujin did.
- Syllabus
- Previous Year Papers
- Preparation Sources
- Strategy
Final Words
Sujin’s story reminded me of something powerful: you are not just your result. You are your choices, your courage, and your ability to keep moving.
Life might change your plans. But that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your way.
So if you’re feeling stuck, or uncertain, or like everyone else is ahead, remember, your story is still unfolding. You don’t need to rush. You don’t need to compare.
Just take the next right step. And then another. That’s all Sujin did.
And that’s all you need to do, too.
