HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF MOTIVATED DURING UGC NET PREPARATION?

 

Hello friends,

When we see at the vast syllabus, we feel like O' my God, from where to start? Shall I start my preparation with the content that I like the most or should I be starting from the portion that seems to be so complex? Well it all depends upon you how you do it. For people who have a very smart strategy they clear this exam in their first attempt. For many others it might require more than one attempt. As people belonging to the field of education and as a teacher Educator I accept this fact that yes, there are individual differences in our classrooms resulting in the diverse way through which children learn the content.

Does one specific strategy for this exam works for all? I would come with a definite 'No'. More than the no of hours that you dedicate to your preparation it is your inner will power that will lead you to success. So in this blog  I would share my own experiences during my preparation. When I first stepped into the Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar campus during the first year of my M. Ed course I was much inspired by the words of my respected teachers and my seniors who have qualified this exam. Yes, the institute is undoubtedly one of the best teacher training institute in  the whole country and there is an aura which one gets to feel when one interacts with the students and teachers  along the positive attitude among the students towards qualifying this exam along with the support of teachers. I had then decide that I would begin my preparation then. I was already sure that I would be going for my Ph.D. after my M. Ed so that kind of helped me to proceed towards making my dream come true of pursuing my research interest. I was highly blessed as the library of RIE was a huge repository of different categories of books. I was from the Science discipline so truly speaking when I decided to start my preparation I was finding it little bit difficult to understand the different topics which happens with most of us like those relating to the different schools of thoughts like Idealism, Realism etc. Then I tried to explore this journey all by myself. We humans are very good at exploration from our childhood days, whenever we find certain questions coming to our minds we  try to find answers to the questions that disturbs us. So I started exploring through the different book shelves in the old library that became my home where I would spend hours going through the different books, instead of returning back to the hostel after the morning classes and also as and when I had no classes I would remain hours in the library only to return in the evening. This helped me to a larger extend to come in terms to the different concepts that were unclear. Sometimes I would go and sit in the lawn near the library surfing the internet checking for some videos on Coding, Mathematical Problems etc. for  Paper I. I was fully dedicated towards my preparation. I was clear that I will be passing the exam with JRF at my very first attempt. I gave the exam and when the results were declared I qualified the exam with NET with  just few marks left for my JRF. I was sad as I was so sure about my preparation and that I would pass the exam with JRF.

The next time I gave NET was during the COVID outbreak when again I passed the exam with NET. This was my second attempt. By this time I got enrolled in the Ph.D. program and my course work was going on. This I would say was a very difficult time for me. There were health issues accompanied with my preparation and this dream of being able to support myself after qualifying this exam. From time to time I used to keep myself motivated. Finally when the results were announced I was sad for a day. Then I thought let me evaluate myself, which are the areas that I really need to look upon, you know kind of SWOT(Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.

There comes certain moments in our life when we are at a phase where we need something and yet when we are just few steps away from it we feel like quitting it. But it is at this moment we should remember that this is the greatest test being taken by the Universe. Starting in the year 2021 I decided to give myself another chance and with absolute dedication I started to prepare again though in a complete different way than the other two attempts.

I returned back to my hostel after my Ph.D. course work with the books that I had and the notes that I had prepared from the different contents. So then I thought my course work is over and I have enough time as at that point of time I was going through the review of related literatures for my Ph.D. topic. I had a complete schedule wherein I decide to give my 100 % for this exam. I took it as a challenge and an opportunity that I would never get again. I changed my strategy and decided to do it in a different way. I decided to skip most of the things that I loved doing. The posts in my blogs became less, I stopped spending time in Social media. This preparation became my Puja, my Sadhana. My outings with friends and family became limited. It was an extensive preparation and a time that I got to explore so much about myself, my weakness and my strength. Of course there were moments of self doubt when I submitted myself to  God's wish. It was the time of the second wave of COVID outbreak, a time when there were so many deaths around the world and in my country. Phone calls from friends of the loss of loved one's came from time to time. There were times when the exam had to be postponed keeping in mind the number of deaths and the seriousness of the COVID outbreak. Whenever I felt disturbed by questions of self doubt whether I would be able to do it, I would look into the  different self motivating thoughts glued to the walls and in the books that I had around me and I kept going. Jiddu Krishnamurti, Swami Vivekananda's quotes motivated me to a larger extent. It all seemed like I was walking into a dream when I sat for the exam. When the results came I was so happy I qualified the exam with 99.17 percentile.

Well wishes from loved ones started pouring in and I thanked the universe for all that I had received. This  for me indeed is a personal journey of self discovery, fighting my own limitations and finding myself where I belong. Of course this would not have been possible had it not for the well wishes and motivating words of my loved ones, my teachers and everyone who has given me so so much love.

Aspire to achieve greater heights, things are impossible till the time you remain bounded within your own limitations. Take one step success is not far away.

My very best wishes to my fellow friends, may you remain happy.

Dedicated to every soul who is aspiring to be the contributor of a happy world.

 

Warm regards

Priyanka