The NEET results are among the most anticipated in the country. They have arrived unexpectedly early this year, much to the surprise of lakhs of kids like me.
I am, or rather was, a NEET aspirant – and I am not at all happy with my results, like many other students. I now sit on the dicey edge of the table – I may or may not get a medical seat in a government college. Never in the two years of my preparation had I thought that I would ever be in this position. But here I am – and I am absolutely fine! Of course, I have finished my share of crying. When you have put so much effort into something for two years and it doesn’t reap the benefits you thought it would, it hurts a lot. But I know it’s not the end of the world.
I decided to write this post not only to express my feelings but also to tell any kid (like me) who’s reading this that it is going to be okay. I know it is a super-clichéd line to say at a time like this, but in order to be happy, I believe we have to keep telling ourselves this – it’s going to be okay. Things may seem completely upside-down and haywire right now, but they will unravel slowly and steadily. We just need the patience to see that happen.
Take my example. Never in these two years have I done anything in an unplanned fashion. In fact, the only unplanned things were my trips to the toilet. I always had a set goal – a target to achieve which I laid down for myself. My parents and teachers never forced me into doing anything.
After such surprising results, for the first time in my life, I have no plan in front of me. Hell, I don’t even know if I want to pursue medicine or psychology or pharmacy! I have just applied for everything. I thought a career in medicine was the only thing I wanted to do in my life. Turns out, it isn’t so. When I asked myself if I would go through this prep-process all over again, the first thought that popped in my head was “No way! Never again!” That’s when I realised that I love so many things in my life. I want to do so many other things in life – things I may be good, bad or inexperienced at, but I will do them.
Things change and our goals change too. Nothing is ever fixed in life – and it certainly will not always go the way you want it to. But it will keep moving – fast, slow, bumpy along the way, but it will never stop. For all the kids out there like me, I know it hurts very badly right now and it is not what you wanted – but we have to learn to accept it and move on. Who knows you may do something which you never thought you would – discover a new hobby maybe or adopt a pet?
I will not say that this exam doesn’t matter and that it amounts to nothing. By doing that, I would be undermining the work of the kids who have performed brilliantly and I certainly do not want to do that. All I want to say is that this is one of the many exams of life. If you haven’t done well, mope for a day – but only a day. The next day, be true to yourself, be confident and stand your ground. Who knows what’s knocking at your doorstep!
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Featured image used for representative purposes only.