Alumni Speak
‘Self-belief is the key’
Believe in yourself and focus on your goal, says an alumna of Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri who has recently cleared the ISS, UPSC exam
Meet Deeksha Chawla, an alumna of Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri, who successfully cleared the ISS exam by the UPSC. Throughout her four attempts, she was diligent in studying and finally achieved it after long-term dedication. Her fourth attempt, which included a second interview, was the one that led to her success.
Read more about her journey…
Tell us about yourself.
I am a Mathematics Honours graduate from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College, University of Delhi, and hold a postgraduate degree in Statistics from Central University of Haryana. I completed my post-graduation in 2020 and have since been dedicated to preparing for this exam. During my school days, I studied PCM, and I recently picked up badminton as a hobby a few months ago.
Has Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri helped you shape your career?
The school has played a significant role in shaping me. I joined in class II and passed out in class XII, completing an 11-year journey. It instilled in me the confidence and calmness that proved invaluable, especially during the interview process. The school’s teachings greatly helped me maintain composure and confidence. The skills I gained here were beneficial in the written exams, particularly in the General Studies and General English papers.
What exactly kept you motivated to keep going?
During my first attempt, I was not well-prepared, having studied for only two months, as it was right after COVID-19. However, what kept me motivated through my four attempts was my progress and the strong foundation my school provided. With each attempt, I improved and felt closer to my goal. I believed that if I could make progress with just two months of preparation, I could achieve even more with full dedication.
How were the teachers?
The teachers were exceptional. Every student who has been taught by the junior teachers here speaks highly of their brilliance. I fondly remember one of my teachers who was deeply invested in each student’s well-being, knowing them personally and treating them with care. Her dedication made her one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, and the entire junior staff continues to maintain that same level of excellence.
How did you manage your stress and maintain consistency over such a long period of preparation?
At times, it feels tempting to give up and switch fields, especially when revising the same content repeatedly. To stay motivated, I kept adding new material with each attempt, referring to different books for each subject in my statistics syllabus. This approach helped me stay engaged. I realised that no matter how well I did, there would always be more to learn and areas I wasn’t fully aware of.
Who has been your role model throughout your life?
Apart from my family, who is my greatest inspiration, a significant source of support has been a mentor from school. He has been a constant guide since my school days, and I have stayed in touch with him ever since.
Any suggestions for UPSC aspirants?
My advice is to eliminate any doubts if you’ve decided to pursue this exam. Self-belief is key — believe in yourself and focus on your goal. The number of vacancies or seats shouldn’t matter if you’re truly committed to achieving it.
