‘Energy and persistence can conquer all things.’ This quote by writer and scientist Benjamin Franklin totally describes the journey of Priyanka Goel. A graduate from Keshav Mahavidyalaya (KMV) of Delhi University, she was not sure about getting into civil services till the last. She didn’t give up at any point and secured AIR 369 in her sixth and last attempt. She has been allotted DANIAS (Delhi, Andaman, Nicobar Islands, Lakshwadeep, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu) cadre and is currently attending the foundation course in LBSNAA.
Her story portrays how positive attitude and hard work can lead one towards success. Today, Indian Masterminds presents her story which bears testimony to the saying, ‘Hope springs eternal in the human heart’.
NOT A CHILDHOOD DREAM
Ms. Goel was born and brought up in Delhi where her father had a manufacturing business. She was a good student and used to score good marks in every exam, and passed 12th boards with 93%. Yet, she had no dream or aim at that time. While speaking on a media platform she said, “I was just studying to get good marks. It was an enjoyment for me. I never thought of what career to pursue.”
While pursuing her B.COM (Hons), she realized that teaching is something that interests her. So, she decided to become a lecturer after completing her studies. In between, she tried to be active in co-curricular activities. She even tried modelling and auditioned for a face wash advertisement and got it. But, she chose not to take up this offer and decided to focus on studies instead.
This went on till the second year of college, when she actually started to observe society. She said, “I was very reserve and study was all I used to do. In college, I started knowing how the society functions. The condition of women in it and all the disparity. I discussed with my friends that I want to change things. One of them casually said that I should go for civil services, it’s a simple exam with which I can be in a position to bring change.”
NEVER THOUGHT OF GIVING UP
She started preparing for CSE in 2016 and gave her first attempt the next year. She couldn’t crack the prelims and the reason was not taking the exam seriously. She had no strategy and used to read books that anybody suggested. After failing that prelims, she realized her mistakes and worked hard with a strategy. Yet again in 2018, she couldn’t clear prelims with just 0.3 marks.
With two failures in a row, she still did not suffer any self-doubts. “The one thing that stuck to my mind was, how can I not do it! Focus was the next step, and not failure,” she said. In 2019, she finally cleared the prelims and was on cloud nine. She felt that now everything would fall in place. If she could crack prelims in the third attempt, she will be in the final list in the next attempt. She started focusing on reading and not answer writing. This cost her another attempt.
STUCK IN CSAT
In 2020, she felt she was fully prepared. She gave the exam and was sure of getting more than the cut off. That actually happened. Her score in GS was more than the cut off but she couldn’t clear CSAT. This was a blow for her. It was the first time that she started to think whether she is cut out for this exam or not. She never thought that CSAT could halt her in her tracks. These thoughts troubled her for a while, but then she decided to give another attempt. She said, “I thought, why should I give up when I have a chance. If UPSC gives us six attempts, then there must be a reason for that.”
WORTH IT
Next year was really hard on her. It was the time of the second wave of Covid-19 in 2021 and her mother was in serious condition. All responsibilities fell on her shoulder and she couldn’t focus on her studies. She gave the exam anyway and could not clear it.
UPSC CSE 2022 was like a do or die situation for her. It was the only chance left to achieve her goal. She didn’t want to ever regret that she missed the opportunity. So, she decided to give her 100%. “I was prepared to go for excellence and not worry about the result. I didn’t want to think that I could have done more,” she said. She increased her study hours to 12-14 hours which went to 17-18 hours before the mains. She cleared prelims and then mains with Public Administration as optional.
When the time for interview came – the first ever interview of her life – she was nervous as she had never faced a panel before and presented her thoughts in front of panelists. She focused on DAF and current affairs. This worked and she saw her name in the final list. At that moment, the past 6-7 years flashed before her. And she realised that all those years of hard work was worth it. The rank or service did not matter, what mattered was that she had finally made it!
