When I was preparing for the GATE exam, I had a simple mindset: my only competition was the person aiming for AIR-1 (All India Rank 1). In my mind, it was just the two of us fighting for that top spot. Whenever I felt lazy or lethargic, I’d remind myself that while I was wasting time, my competitor was working hard—revising, taking mock tests, and getting ahead.
This mindset helped me in two ways: it pushed me to be more proactive and made me take the exam seriously. I didn’t allow myself to slack off, because every moment felt like it mattered. Plus, it reduced the pressure of competing with thousands of others—now it was just a race between two people.
I’m not sure if this was the healthiest approach, but it worked for me. If you're feeling complacent right now, maybe try something similar. Sometimes we settle because we're confident of achieving a good rank—maybe under 500 or 200. But why stop there?
A year from now, I don’t want you to look back and think, "If only I had worked harder, I could’ve gotten a better rank." Put in your best effort now, without worrying about the outcome. Give it your all so you have no regrets later.
#GATE #GATE2025 #IITB #IISc
Student at the Fashion Institute of Technology
4moI had a great time! Thank you for arranging the graduation party for us!!