Srinagar, Mar 14: From hours of isolation with books to the pinnacle of success. Meet the new JKAS sensation from Vijaypur who opens up about the marathon journey behind her spectacular Rank-2.
The young civil services aspirant Simranjeet Kaur opened up about her journey, her strategy, and her vision for the future.
Kaur said, “Honestly, it is a surreal feeling. God has been very kind. I was expecting a good result because I had put in the effort, but I was not expecting Rank-02.
She said, “The competition is very tough, so to see my name that high on the list is just unbelievable. It is a great feeling to see the pride in people’s eyes because of my hard work.”
“Without a doubt, my family, my father and my entire family have stood by me from the very beginning of this journey. There were moments of stress and isolation during the preparation, and they were my rock. Their belief in me never wavered, which kept me going,” Kaur said.
She further said that the preparation for an exam like JKAS is a long marathon. “There were definitely periods where I had to isolate myself from social gatherings to focus. It gets stressful when you are sitting with books for hours, not knowing if it will pay off. But you have to push through that.”
On asking about her academic background and educational strategy, Kaur said that she was studying in an Army Public School. “My interest in governance and society was sparked early on. I chose Humanities up to my 12th standard, and for my graduation, I pursued Political Science. That foundation helped me understand the syllabus better.”
“I believe in the combination of hard and smart work. You can study for twelve hours a day, but if you aren’t utilising that time smartly, it won’t yield results. Time management is crucial,” Kaur said.
She advised the aspirants not to rely wholly on coaching centres. “They can provide guidance, but self-study is the most important factor. You have to read, understand, and revise on your own. No one else can do that for you.”
On asking about her priorities when given a role in administration she said, “I don’t want to remain confined to one particular department. However, if I get the opportunity, my aim is to work extensively on two areas including the education and women empowerment sectors. I believe if we strengthen these two sectors, we can bring a massive positive change to society.”—(KNO)
