To start with it, way back in my college days itself, I began dreaming about a career in management. The determination needed was quite high. With my seniors moving at a pace faster than speed of light, also people with 45% getting in to good schools, I thought getting into a good B-school was surely my cup of tea. Since I was good at acads and maths was my passion, I always was confident that I could tackle CAT easily.
I completed my graduation and with the advice of a great counselor took up a job. Since even I am a counselor now, I keep on blabbering ‘Will you be idle for 6 months just for a two and a half hr test? That’s not done!’ With not much difficulty, I could get into an advertising firm. The working hours were tiring; it swallowed up nearly all the time. I stretched it a lot and then one fine day I decided to quit.
Now began the actual nightmare. I had wasted 4 months and with only 1 month left in hand, I had no clue where I was heading. I had not done with the BRMs too, but started off by taking tests. They didn’t help, the only thing I used to do was to listen to music when tensed or just run out of my house to have a cup of ice-cream. These were the only means that could make me feel better. I felt as if I have been pushed into a hollow pit, which does have an opening at the top but no rope to climb out of it. And when the countdown began, the only thing I could do is worry, get tensed, irritated and so on and so forth. I still believe that the one-month I spent at home preparing was not less than a nightmare. Each and everyday was traumatising, the main reason being a guilty conscience that I failed to work hard.
Came the D-day, all de-motivated I went to the test venue just to gaze at a whole country of people tensed, biting their nails. The test went on, and I prayed for the clock to tick 5 pm, to heave a sigh of relief. Next came a bundle of tests, NMAT, SNAP, etc., which too didn't go well. The main reason I was de-motivated, I felt as if this was the end.
One fine day I decided to go to the IMS center and have a talk with a counselor there. Since my Lady Luck was at place. I could speak to the center manager. He guided me through my depression and helped my find a good job that could surely suit as well as help me. The same proverb again ‘Will you be idle for 6 months just for a two and a half hr test?’
Then a great motivation came from my mother who wanted me to build up confidence and as they say ‘start with a new life’. The plus point now was that I myself was a counselor so this entitled me to learn a lot. With the help of my colleagues, I gathered a lot of confidence to start all over again. This motivation reflected as hard work and dedication. I took XAT, scored well, better than the earlier tests. And by the time CET came up I was prepared to fight it out and emerge victorious. This motivational leap helped me a lot.
Though I still await my results, I am at least sure that I will be able to make it to a good B-school and yes, keep up with the good performance and motivation there too.
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