family was the inspiration
Speaking to Education Times, Singhal revealed that he has a family legacy of engineers. “Both my father and grandfather did their engineering from IIT BHU. My elder brother is also an engineer from IIT Guwahati. Thus, I always knew engineering was the way forward for me,” he says.
While Singhal was always in the top group of his class at Apeejay School, Noida, he was not inclined towards sports or any specific extra-curricular activities. “It only strengthened my resolve to be academically strong. Right from my childhood, I watched my elder brother prepare for IIT, which made my higher education option clear,” he says.
after a program
Inspired by his brother, Singhal decided to go against his parents’ advice to join IIT coaching classes in class IX. “My brother had started preparing for competitive exams in class XI, which I also decided to do. I had joined a coaching institute in class X, but the focused preparation started only in class XI,” he says.
Singhal’s mantra was consistency and hard work. “I put a lot of hours into self-work. Attending all the classes, completing all the assignments assigned by the lecturers, being regular with the coursework, practicing multiple questions on repeat mode to develop speed and ability are some of the habits that helped me gain confidence. ”
take a break
However, the topper says that it is important to take breaks, as continuous studying can lead to breakdown. “My goal was to spend a little time on social media. My schedule was predetermined. Between hours of heavy study, I’d take breaks on Instagram and Twitter for anything between five and 10 minutes. It helped me understand all the things that my friends were doing and current events,” he says.
Watching television shows with his family was another way for the student to take a break. “Family time should not be underestimated. Sharing laughter with family members can be a great stress-buster,” explains Singhal.
face the challenge
Singhal explains that while he was clear about his objective of joining IIT since childhood, there are many who are not sure about their future goals, which can be a big challenge.
“It can be difficult to stay excited while studying the same course over and over. With the lockdown in place and limited options to take breaks, the process can get boring. I kept myself motivated by focusing on the outcome I wanted,” Singhal says.
Another problem that the student was facing was the shift from offline to online mode of education. “For the preparation, I had joined Unacademy in my class XI which proved to be a boon. The focused sessions with great teachers helped me break away from the monotony,” explains Singhal.
road ahead
The youngster doesn’t have any concrete plans for his future right now. “I have vague thoughts about joining a big organization with a great salary package. Another idea is to break away from the mold and do something for the society. My immediate goal is to become an engineer by joining an IIT, the next step I will figure out after that,” he says.
.