When life puts individuals through difficult tests, every path often appears blocked. Yet, some people refuse to bow down to hardships, turning every closed door into a window of opportunity. The life story of Kruthika, who grew up in Hassan, Karnataka, follows a similar path. At an age when children dream under the warm affection of their parents, Kruthika experienced indifference and rejection from her own father. He was unhappy at her birth simply because she was a girl. Throughout her childhood, the young girl brought home school medals and academic certificates just to win a fraction of her father's love, but she received only neglect in return. Following the divorce of her parents, the situation deteriorated further. Society labeled her mother as a divorced woman, and extended family members distanced themselves. However, this turbulent phase did not break Kruthika; instead, it fueled her determination to fight for her mother's honor and answer everyone who questioned the capabilities of a single mother. By securing an All India Rank of 100 in the UPSC examination, Kruthika made her mother immensely proud.
Childhood Lessons and Social Attitudes
After the separation of her parents, even school children began keeping their distance from Kruthika. When she was in the fourth grade, she scored 99 out of 100 in mathematics. Suddenly, classmates who had previously ignored her started approaching her on their own. This minor incident taught young Kruthika that to build an identity and earn respect in society, one must achieve significant milestones through sheer capability. This realization eventually directed her toward the rigorous path of the civil services examination.
Four Failures and a Psychological Shift
Kruthika maintained a high standard of preparation. Mentors at her coaching institute and judges on mock interview panels continuously praised her performance. Despite this, her name remained absent from the final merit lists. Exhausted by four consecutive failures, she found herself completely broken. One night, sitting alone in a dark room, she read a psychological theory on her laptop screen known as the Rosenthal Effect, also referred to as the Pygmalion Effect. The core concept suggests that our lives begin to mirror the expectations we hold for ourselves or that others hold for us. This psychological principle forced Kruthika to reevaluate her mindset. She realized that the flaw lay not in her studies, but in the subconscious fear residing within her that she might never become an IAS officer. Transforming her perspective and restoring faith in herself, she successfully cleared the UPSC exam in her subsequent attempts, securing the 100th rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2018 to become an IRS officer.
Initial Mistakes and Preparatory Evolution
Kruthika's journey was far from straightforward, having commenced her preparation back in 2012. During the first year, she spent hours making two-page extensive notes on newspapers that had no relevance to the actual examination, a realization that dawned on her a year later. Furthermore, her preparation encountered several milestones. Just two months prior to her third attempt, she discovered the necessity of solving mock MCQs for the preliminary examination, leading her to enroll in the Insights on India test series. During her second attempt, which marked her first mains exam, she managed to answer only 16 out of 20 questions, teaching her that completing the entire paper is an absolute prerequisite for passing. By her fourth attempt, she understood the critical importance of ARC Reports for her optional subject of Public Administration.
Core Lessons from Kruthika's Journey
Kruthika's prolonged journey serves as an essential guide for every aspirant who feels isolated or defeated at various points. The primary lessons derived from her experiences include avoiding complete isolation from the world during studies. Many individuals believe that isolating oneself entirely is necessary, but without interacting with seniors and mentors, one remains unaware of what to study and what to omit. Learning from the mistakes of others is another key takeaway; a wise person corrects their path by observing others rather than wasting time committing every error firsthand. Finally, students must never leave an exam paper incomplete. No matter the circumstances inside the examination hall, finishing the entire paper and keeping eyes fixed on the goal despite unfavorable conditions remains vital.
