Roopali Surana's Inspiring Journey to Becoming an IRS Officer
Roopali Surana's Remarkable Journey
Roopali Surana's Remarkable Journey: In life, some dreams require not just hard work but also the resilience to rise after repeated failures. Roopali Surana's story exemplifies this. Despite facing setbacks in the challenging UPSC exams five times, she remained steadfast in her pursuit. She encountered difficulties with mathematics, experienced exam-related stress, and dealt with societal pressures, yet she refused to let these challenges weaken her resolve.
A Childhood Dream of Becoming an Officer
Hailing from Beawar in Rajasthan, Roopali always aspired to join the civil services from a young age. Her father's encouragement played a significant role in nurturing this ambition. After completing her graduation from Miranda House in Delhi, she dedicated herself to preparing for the UPSC exams, focusing on subjects like Geography and Political Science.
The Beginning of a Series of Setbacks
Roopali attempted the UPSC exam for the first time in 2018. It was during this attempt that she realized that adopting strategies from other candidates without understanding her own needs was not effective. In subsequent attempts, issues with time management and mental pressure during the exam hall compounded her challenges. The lack of success over five attempts led to disappointment, but she resolved to learn from her mistakes.
CSAT: The Biggest Challenge
The CSAT exam proved particularly challenging for Roopali. Her struggles with mathematics and the pressure to solve questions within a limited time frame created significant hurdles. Alongside her failures, familial and societal pressures began to mount. There was a point when she doubted whether this exam was meant for her. Nevertheless, she acknowledged her weaknesses and gathered the courage to continue her preparation.
Support from Her IPS Husband and Family
After her marriage, Roopali experienced a pivotal change in her life. Marrying IPS officer Amrit Jain provided her with new support in her preparation. Her husband assisted her in evaluating answer sheets and understanding subjects more effectively. The encouragement from her family also inspired her to resume her exam preparations, allowing her to focus entirely on her final attempt.
Achieving Her Goal in the Sixth Attempt: Becoming an IRS Officer
In her sixth attempt, Roopali concentrated on rectifying her previous mistakes. She utilized NCERT books from school level to prepare for the CSAT and worked on overcoming her fear of mathematics. Additionally, she improved her essay writing skills and enhanced her performance in the main exam. In the 2023 UPSC examination, she secured an all-India rank of 386 and became an IRS officer. Her journey illustrates that failure is not the end but an opportunity for self-improvement.