As soon as I entered Class 12th, I felt like I was one step closer to my dream. The moment I had been waiting for was finally here.
I had started preparing for NDA back in Class 11th, but with school exams going on, I couldn’t give it the attention it needed. Still, I thought—why not just give NDA (I) 2021? Not to clear it, but to get the feel of the exam, understand the pattern, and figure out the important chapters.
So, I went to the examination hall with a free mind and came out with one clear realization—my Mathematics was weak and needed a lot of practice. Around the same time, I saw my seniors clearing their written exams and preparing for their SSBs. Their advice was tempting: “Just focus on NCERTs.” So, I started doing that, while also preparing a bit for SSBs side by side, like most aspirants do.
Then came the twist—NDA (II) 2021 got postponed. That delay made me procrastinate. And when the date finally approached, things got messier. CBSE announced Term-1 exams in the first week of December, while NDA (II) was scheduled for 14th November. To prepare us, the school decided to conduct pre-boards. Naturally, my NDA preparation—especially Mathematics—suffered.
The exam day arrived. After attempting the Maths paper, I knew deep inside—I hadn’t done enough. My only hope was that my GAT performance would balance it out. I prayed hard. But when the results came out on 22nd December, it was no surprise—I hadn’t made it.
Yet, instead of breaking me, it gave me more determination. I knew my weak areas. And I also knew—it was going to be my last attempt at NDA. So, as a backup, I decided to give JEE Mains, hoping to get into a good college and later try for entries like TES or 10+2 B.Tech Navy.
But school work came crashing down harder—assignments, projects, practicals with external evaluators—it all ate up my time. Before I realized, it was already 15th March. Notifications of NDA subject marathons started popping up on my phone, and suddenly it hit me—I didn’t have much time left.
That very night, I asked my parents to enroll me in a crash course. Luckily, the academy I joined had mentors who were themselves defense aspirants and cadets who couldn’t continue due to medical issues. From the next day, I was at it. Solving questions from Pathfinder (Complete Guide to NDA/NA) and Mathematics for NDA by R.S. Aggarwal, asking endless doubts to my mentor—Harshveer Mand (AIR 57 NDA). For the first time, I started feeling confident.
The day of my last NDA attempt came. Maths began at 10:00 hrs sharp. By the time I walked out of the hall at 12:30 hrs, I was filled with hope. For once, I truly believed—maybe this time I’ll make it.
Every single day after that, I prayed to God. “Just give me a chance to go to SSB. Let me prove myself there.”
Finally, the results came. And guess what? I couldn’t make it again. This time, it wasn’t Maths—it was GAT that pulled me down.
That day broke me. I still remember going for dinner that night—completely numb. After forcing myself to study for upcoming boards, I lay down in bed and the tears wouldn’t stop. I cursed myself for not focusing at the right time, for messing up when it mattered most. The next morning, my eyes were swollen red from crying.
But then again—I reminded myself. An officer never gives up, do they?
So, it was time to switch to Plan B. What’s going to happen? Will I still make it to an academy? I don’t know yet. I guess time will tell.
Till then, see you in the next one.
BYE.
JAI HIND. 🇮🇳
