S Awasthy from Thiruvanamthapuram cleared UPSC Civil Services Examination in her fourth attempt. Her success assumes more significance because she comes from a very humble background. Her father was a construction worker and Awasthy had to overcome many challenges on her way up. It’s said success comes to those who never give up and believe in themselves, and this applies very well to her. She cracked CSE in 2020 in her fourth attempt.
Today, Indian Masterminds brings to you her inspirational story of not letting a humble background and three failures to come in the way of achieving her desired goal.
BACKGROUND
Awasthy S comes from Thiruvanamthapuram. Her father Premkumar P was a construction worker and mother Sreelatha P a homemaker. Her younger brother P Arun now works in an IT firm.
Ever since she was in class 8, Awasthy nurtured the dream of becoming an IAS officer. After her schooling, she opted for engineering and graduated from Government Barton Hill Enginneering College in Thiruvanamthapuram.
After her post-graduation, Awasthy secured a job in TCS in the year 2015. While doing her 9-7 job, she simultaneously prepared for her UPSC examination. In 2017, she realised that to clear UPSC, she had to work harder, day and night, and so she quit her corporate job to dedicate all her time to preparation.
NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE
Awasthy was unable to clear even the preliminary examinations in her first three attempts. However, she didn’t lose hope. Instead, she worked harder to achieve her dream. After the three failures, she analysed the pros and cons and evaluated where she was going wrong. Apart from this, she also practised her writing more and improved her content formation. After working on her weaknesses, Awasthy finally cleared CSE in her fourth attempt.
After clearing the exam, she told the media, “It was my fourth attempt at civil services examination. The last three times, I could not clear the preliminary exams and I was a little anxious. To crack the examination, I focused on writing practice and maximum content improvisation, so that I could present my content well in the papers.”
FIFTH ATTEMPT
Awasthi didn’t hope to clear in her fourth attempt because of her three previous failures. But she didn’t give up and reached the milestone. Awasthy had said at that time that as she cleared her examination with AIR 481, she would get Indian Revenue Service. But her aim was to become an IAS officer and, therefore, she would make one more attempt at UPSC.
“Though I am happy that I cleared the examination, I may get IRS. As my dream is to become an IAS officer, I am preparing for the exam again.”
PROUD FATHER
Her father Premkumar P said that his daughter’s achievement has made him and the family proud. “I am proud of my daughter. She studied and cleared an examination like UPSC under difficult circumstances. She is hardworking and was excellent in studies since her school days.”
Awasthy’s is the perfect example of a never-say-die attitude. Her courageous spirit kept her going till the time the results of CSE were announced and she found her name in the coveted list of successful candidates. That same spirit is urging her on to give the exam again to get IAS. Her story should encourage all those who get bogged down by failures and make them realise that ‘you never fail until you stop trying’.
