There is no dearth of stories of UPSC CSE and almost all tell of dreams, struggles and success. Everyone’s story is unique in some way just as their journey is unique. Every story of success after hard work is inspiring but some stories touch an emotional chord. The story of Akavaram Sasya Reddy is one such story.
Losing her father at very young age, her life was not that easy. Her mother took up the responsibilities of both the parents and they both had to lead a very simple life because of financial constraints.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, she opened up a little about her family and the struggles she faced to reach this far.
MOTHER ALWAYS SUPPORTED HER
Ms. Reddy belongs to a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Her family was based there till she completed her fifth. After that, they moved to Hyderabad. She completed her civil engineering from a college in Hyderabad. Although, she lost her father in 2010, her mother did all she could to provide her with the best of education. “For some time, we lived with my grandparents but from the last many years, we are both living alone. My mother has been doing something or the other to manage the finances. Due to financial crunches, we have been living a very simple life and didn’t have any sort of celebration or function in the last 3-4 years. In all these years, this is the first time when we are in celebratory mode,” she said.
They live in a small rented house on the outskirts of the city. From the final year of engineering, Ms. Reddy is also sharing some financial responsibility of the family by doing content writing on UPSC related matters.
BELIEVE AND TRY
Ms. Reddy has always been active in sports during her school days. A junior national level champion in throwball, she also has keen interest in badminton. However, after school, she has been focusing on studies only. In the final year of engineering, she decided to go for UPSC and gave three attempts. She cleared the pre in the first attempt and couldn’t make it by few marks in mains in her second attempt. When asked if there was any pressure in the house because of this, she said, “My mother has always been supportive. When I decided to go for UPSC, she backed me and said that even if I fail in UPSC, she is confident that I won’t fail in life.”
Ms. Reddy didn’t have any family member or friend who is in this field. She lacked guidance but not confidence. She says that like her, anybody who believes in their potential can try for UPSC. “The ability to try takes you to success,” she said.
OFFICERS INSPIRED
Ms. Reddy has always been inspired by the good works of several officers and wanted to be like them. She believes that everyone should have a dignified life and officers can help others to have it by their work. “I have seen people who goes to an officer with their grievances under programmes like ‘Prajavahini’. When their issue is resolved, their face shows a different kind of happiness. I want to be the reason behind such happiness,” said Ms. Reddy. She secured 214 rank in UPSC CSE 2021 and is waiting for the allotment of service.
