Was the Preparation Worth All the Sacrifices?

Was It All Worth It?

I always say this journey is not a 100m sprint but a marathon of two long years.
Sometimes you’ll need to pace up, sometimes slow down, take short breaks, and then run again with full force.

But a question often arises – “Is it really worth it?”

These days, the world is changing rapidly. AI is taking over jobs, technology is advancing at lightning speed, and many people will tell you, “IITs are not what they used to be.”

Let me tell you this, loud and clear.

The world has seen advancements before – industrial booms, IT revolutions – and yet, IITs have continued to stand tall as the nation’s top institutes. Because IITs are not built merely by their professors or their curriculum. IIT is IIT because of its students.

If you see college as just a means to get a job, you’re missing the bigger picture. IIT is where you meet the top 1% minds of the country. It’s a place where you learn not just from classes but from the people around you – their skills, their thinking, their lives. The peer group and the environment make IIT what it is. And it takes a lot to earn your place there.

To be honest, JEE Advanced is tough. There’s no sugarcoating it.
Yes, you can enter IITs later through GATE or other programs, but getting in through JEE Advanced is different.
Clearing an exam with less than 1% selection rate makes you a true IITian. You’ll find many students who enter IITs for M.Tech via GATE, but entering through JEE Advanced is a battle that tests not just your intelligence but your discipline and patience.

This post is about the sacrifices this journey demands.

Many students reach out to me, struggling with distractions, unable to focus. And it’s normal. You’re 17 or 18, at an age full of energy and emotions. Even I went through all of this.

Friend Circle – Good or Bad?

Till Class 10, I had a big friend circle. But once Class 11 started, I made a decision: no more unnecessary hangouts. My friends might have felt bad when I refused to join their plans, but I knew – if they were real friends, they’d understand.

At the same time, it shouldn’t be like you become a complete robot during your preparation. Choose your friends wisely – those who are driven towards the same goal – and spend time with them. I was part of the Super Sankalp batch at FIITJEE, which had just 6 students. We all made it to top institutes, always understood each other’s priorities, spent time together, made memories, and cracked it together.

Two years later, I entered IIT and had all the freedom I wanted – nights out with friends, spending time the way I wished. Looking back, I’m glad I chose to sacrifice two years for a lifetime of freedom and pride. Had I wasted time then, today I’d be regretting it.

One of the rare hangouts we had after class during our FIITJEE days.

First Night Out in IIT Kharagpur

Afternoon Sleep – A Hidden Barrier in Your Preparation

I had a habit of sleeping every afternoon after a heavy lunch. It felt almost impossible to stay awake during that time.
But most of the major exams, including JEE Main, Advanced, and NEET, are conducted in the afternoon slot, and I couldn’t afford to feel drowsy on the exam day.
Initially, to avoid sleeping, I started going for walks and open air gym from 4 PM to 5 PM.
After the walk, I used to watch stand-up comedy videos. It was as entertaining as sleeping and kept me awake.

Gradually, I replaced that stand-up time with a 1-hour mock test so that my brain stayed active during that slot. Slowly, my body adapted to this routine, and I stopped feeling sleepy in the afternoon altogether. Training your body to stay alert in the afternoon is as important as your academic preparation itself.

Social Media – Do You Really Need It?

I got my first smartphone in Class 11 and was addicted to Facebook and Instagram. I’d scroll before dinner, while mom was out shopping, or asleep. One day I realised – I’m not cheating my mom by hiding, I’m cheating myself.

That day I wrote a post on social media announcing I was quitting till JEE. And I did. For the first few days, I kept wondering what I was missing out on – what my friends were posting, what memes were trending. But slowly, that urge faded. 

Back then, missing out on social media felt like missing out on life. But now when I look back, I realise I wasn’t missing out on anything important. Today, I am active on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn – but that discipline I learnt back helped me to regain control over myself.

Relationships – A Distraction You Can’t Afford

These two years are not the best time for relationships. I’ve seen it for 7 batches now.
Exceptions exist, but exceptions can not be considered as examples.
Most students lose focus, and these two years decide the foundation of your career. Once you enter a good college, life changes. Your parents trust your decisions more, you understand life better, and you’re more mature to handle relationships.

Remember – these two years are to build your future, not to do what others are doing just to fit in.

Why Sacrifice?

All these sacrifices – were they worth it?

When I saw my JEE rank of 3466 and stepped into IIT Kharagpur for the first time, I got goosebumps. Five years later, I walked out as a completely transformed person. IIT gave me things I never imagined – amazing friends, night outs, freedom, opportunities to lead as captain in inter-IIT events, and most importantly, a version of myself that I’m proud of. The brand IIT opens many doors in your initial career years. It gives you a headstart.

Above all, your parents will be proud of you.
I bet you would want to hear your parents telling someone, “My son graduated from IIT Kharagpur” the feeling is surreal.

Yes, JEE is tough. But these four years at IIT will compensate for every single sacrifice you make today. 
IIT's have a wide array of student-run clubs and societies including academic, cultural, and social groups. Some popular ones are the Debating Society, Fine Arts Society, Technology Robotix Society, Technology Dance Society, Entrepreneurship Cell, Gaming Society, Business Club etc. 

You don’t want to be just another person in the crowd. You want to be the person who stands out.
It’s a marathon. And it’s worth every step.

Recieved the Best Graduating All Rounder in the Institute in Social and Cultural.

With My Parents at the 69th IIT Kharagpur Convocation

Some glimpses from IITKGP:

Friends made on campus, for a Lifetime


Hostel Life at Campus

Hostel Birthday Parties

Holi at Campus

Kshitij (Tech Fest of IITKGP)

Spring Fest (Cultural Fest of IITKGP)

Inter IIT Sports Meet

Inter IIT Cultural Meet