(Sarthak Aggarwal is a student of Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, and topper of this year's CBSE class XII Board examinations, with 99.6% marks, in the Science stream)The Class XII board exam is an important juncture in every student's life, as it marks a transition from school to college. For me, the board also had great significance as I want a graduate degree in economics and admission to the best colleges would depend entirely on my marks.
My father bluntly called it "skating on thin ice."
I knew the hazards associated with my decision, but chose to focus on the task in hand, rather than worrying about the future. This clarity in approach, right from the word go is the primary reason why I have been able to achieve my goal. I strongly suggest that everyone should decide on a career objective, and strive hard to achieve it, making sure not to digress. After all, a straight line is the shortest distance between two points.
My success may have been extraordinary, but the path towards it can be summed up in the age-old adage - "Practice makes perfect". I worked immensely hard, studied between 10 to 15 hours a day, with constant guidance from my parents and teachers, and made sure that I learnt from every mistake.
My main focus was to correct my shortcomings and to reinforce what I already knew. And my teachers worked hard and relentlessly, making sure that every possible error was taken into account.
Another tip I would like to share with everyone is that the Internet is not just Facebook and Twitter. It has boundless opportunities for learning, via interactive animations, video lectures and question banks. I made extensive use of these tools when I needed to go beyond what my books could offer. Doing this gave me required knowledge in quick time, which would otherwise have been extremely difficult, and in some cases, impossible to obtain.
Finally, my message to everyone is to simply try and do their best, and not think too much about the result.
Personally speaking, the happiness I got from doing my exams in the best possible way was far greater than all the glitter following my result. If you can proudly say that they you have done your best, then you are definitely a winner.
Here I would like to share my favourite quote: "Never calculate the height of a mountain before you climb it. When you reach the top, you will realise how low it was" - Hammarskjold
I wish everyone a great journey uphill!
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