Hard work, sacrifice key to cracking exams, says 17-year-old Namoijam Naoba Meetei
By Devika Ch
Namoijam Naoba Meetei managed to crack The National Defence Academy (NDA) Entrance exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commision (UPSC) in his first attempt and secured All India Rank, AIR 27. The merit list was declared on Tuesday.
Among three siblings, Naoba, who hails from Khonghampat Khunou in Imphal, is the middle child to Namoijam Naran Meetei and Namoijam (o) Premila Leima.
When asked what inspired and motivated him to take this path, Naoba said that he had always been inspired by the Indian Army since he was a child. Having studied in Sainik School, where young boys are moulded and prepared for such career paths, he was fascinated by the lifestyle and admired the work of the army officers, who visited his school from time to time, he added.
When asked if he was simultaneously preparing for other competitive exams while preparing for NDA, he said, “I have always focused on all round development and after speculating different career options, this line utilizes everything I have done and learnt so far, so I chose this and decided to follow what I have always wanted.” He added that he participated in public speaking, extempore speech and plays football too.
In a state like Manipur where most parents and students are determined to opt for technical lines such as JEE, AIEEE or NEET, it is crucial to ponder on whether it will be the right choice. Nevertheless, if one is clear of his goals in life, there is no harm in taking the step. Naoba, who is waiting to join the NDA, said the process of taking the exam can be quite a long process, but it is not difficult to crack it. “Yes, you need to study too but in this line, you don’t necessarily have to be a genius or a book worm. What the NDA wants is a balanced environment, and for me, my participation in extracurricular activities in school has helped a lot,” says the 17 year old. He further said that one needs to know the strategy of such exams and should have a clear concept of Mathematics. So, if one works hard, it is indeed achievable, he added.
He said that he took the exam in September, when he was still in school, midway to appear for his 12th board exam. He was able to crack it in the first attempt as he studied the criteria of the exam carefully and selectively read the parts where importance was given. He believes that if one wants to succeed in life, hard work and sacrifice is the key. Moreover, one needs to work smart, not only work hard, he added..
He encouraged people to keep trying and not to give up despite failures as there are lots of people who succeed after multiple failures. According to him, the essence of conquering our battle in life is realized when we remain dedicated to our passion and self-motivation. “To achieve what we want, we should not be easily swayed by distractions in life,” he said. Waiting for his call letter, Naoba said his preference is the Indian Army and wishes to serve the nation till he is able to.