From 50%ile to 99%ile | My JEE Main story | Prakriti Mehta IIT Bombay

Summary

In this heartfelt story, an IIT Bombay student shares her journey of failure, self-doubt, and eventual redemption during her JEE preparation. After scoring just 13 marks and a 50 percentile in her first JEE Mains attempt, she felt embarrassed and avoided her teachers out of shame. A harsh confrontation shattered her confidence, but a second mentor’s honest advice pushed her to face reality instead of running from it. By shifting her mindset, improving time management, and focusing on self-growth rather than comparison, she dramatically improved to 99 percentile in her next attempt. Her message is clear: setbacks aren’t the end—believe in yourself and strive to become better every single day.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Don't let one bad result define you** – Failure is a part of the process, not the end.
• 😀 **Facing your fears is essential** – Running away from challenges only worsens the situation.
• 😀 **Failure doesn't mean you're not capable** – Even a low score doesn’t mean you aren’t putting in effort.
• 😀 **Learn from your mistakes** – Identify areas where you can improve and make sure to work on them.
• 😀 **Be consistent** – Success comes from maintaining effort over time, even when things aren’t going well.
• 😀 **Avoid comparing yourself to others** – Your journey is unique and comparing yourself to others can lead to unnecessary pressure.
• 😀 **Believe in yourself, even if no one else does** – Self-confidence is key to overcoming challenges.
• 😀 **Embrace growth** – Focus on becoming a better version of yourself every day, rather than obsessing over perfect results.
• 😀 **Don’t live up to others' expectations** – You can only do your best; don’t let society’s standards weigh you down.
• 😀 **Set realistic goals** – Understand what’s possible within your given time and resources, and aim for achievable goals.

Q & A

What was the main reason the speaker felt disappointed with their performance in JEE Mains attempt 1?

The speaker was disappointed because they scored only around 50-60 percentile in the math section of the JEE Mains attempt 1, which they felt was due to not covering the entire syllabus, lack of practice, poor time management, and other personal challenges.

How did the speaker initially deal with the disappointment after seeing their JEE Mains results?

Initially, the speaker ran from their math teacher to avoid facing their poor results. They felt embarrassed and did not want to be asked about their performance. They also stopped asking for feedback on their performance.

What advice did the math teacher give the speaker after they confessed their low score?

The teacher told the speaker that they were running away from their problems and not facing reality. The teacher emphasized the importance of consistency and encouraged the speaker not to worry about others’ expectations, but to focus on their own efforts and personal growth.

Why did the speaker consider their first attempt result in JEE Mains to be unimportant?

The speaker believed that their first attempt result was not crucial because they were focusing on the second attempt. They recognized that their 11th-grade syllabus was still incomplete and that they had time to improve before the second attempt.

What was the significant turning point in the speaker's journey after the first attempt?

The turning point occurred when another teacher helped the speaker regain confidence by telling them to focus on improving themselves daily and not to compare themselves to others. This advice made the speaker realize that success is about personal growth, not meeting others' expectations.

What did the speaker achieve after implementing the advice from the teacher?

After applying the teacher's advice, the speaker improved their approach, managed their time more effectively, and ended up scoring 99 percentile in the second attempt of JEE Mains, which they considered a big achievement given their starting point.

What is the core message the speaker wants to convey to their audience?

The core message is that personal growth should be the main focus, not comparing oneself to others. It’s important to learn from failures, believe in oneself, and consistently strive to become a better version of yourself each day.

How did the speaker suggest students should approach their goals and expectations?

The speaker advised students to set realistic and achievable goals based on their own circumstances and to avoid trying to live up to others' expectations. They emphasized comparing oneself to oneself and aiming for personal improvement rather than perfection.

What does the speaker mean by 'compete with yourself'?

When the speaker says 'compete with yourself,' they mean focusing on personal growth and continuous self-improvement rather than trying to match or surpass others' achievements. The goal is to become better than you were yesterday.

How did the speaker’s perspective change after receiving support from the teachers?

The speaker’s perspective shifted from feeling defeated and embarrassed to gaining the confidence to face their shortcomings. With the support and advice from their teachers, they began focusing on personal effort and long-term growth, leading to greater success in their second attempt.