I and Joseph were in my preparation days. We targeted some top institutes for our PG. Joseph was not good in his studies. In his 10th and 12th he scored less than 65% and he attempted JEE twice in which he failed.

One day Joseph got a call from his uncle. His Uncle said “son, go for UPSC CDS and become an army officer” to which Joseph agreed. Although Joseph was not interested in this.

CDS is an exam which opens the door for an individual to become a lieutenant in Indian Army. After the written exam one has to clear the SSB also which is comparatively tough than the CDS.

He asked me to fill the exam form for CDS just to accompany him to which I agreed and we filled the exam form. We both were preparing for one of the toughest aptitude examination so I was sure about clearing the written exam of CDS but about Joseph I doubted.

The exam day came, we both attempted the exam and eventually we both cleared the written exam. Now I was not interested in getting into the army so cleared it to Joseph that I will not be appearing for SSB. Joseph also said the same but he was skeptical about it.

One day his father paid a visit to us. Joseph’s father run a Medical Store in Bhubaneswar and he use to earn 15 to 20K a month. Joseph told his father about the exam. His father got extremely happy after getting the news but Joseph said he doesn’t want to serve the army and wants to run the medical store. (He was hopeless about clearing his SSB.)

His father said “Son, Your Grandfather used to run this store. He wanted me to study and get a job but I wasted my life with my friends and in the end I had this store left. I may not earn as much as your friend’s father but I did my best to provide you good education. I do not buy a smartphone for me because I want to buy it for you. Your mother do not purchase any jewellery because she saves money for your education. If not for you then at least for us go for the further process, join the army and make us proud.”

This had a great impact on Joseph and he started working hard for the SSB and his sheer hard work and dedication bore him fruits. He ended up clearing the SSB and got recommended for Indian Military Academy.

Every year lacs of students fail in exams like JEE and NEET and Joseph was one of them. He started thinking that he is an average and he is not born for becoming an officer or getting a heavy package in a MNC. But when he changed his mindset he was able to do exceptional things. So, we must cancel our pessimistic attitude towards our life, we must stop thinking that we are average.

We are humans and we all have infinite potential.

-Krishnakant Singh, B.A. Sociology (2017)