Dear Friends,
Nowadays, we see many students opting for long-term coaching for IIT-JEE. In our days, however, long-term coaching was mainly for the EAMCET entrance examination. I still remember that right after my 10th standard, I ordered IIT study material from Brilliant Tutorials, Chennai. I realized I was “not IIT material” only after reading that material. The material used to come in a series - and the realization that I was not IIT material also happened in a series!
Thanks to the depth and difficulty of that material, I gradually lost confidence in my regular +2 Mathematics and Physics as well. After some time, I decided to focus only on my +2 syllabus and managed to scrape through with a simple first class - though I had been a school topper in 10th standard. As a result, I did not qualify for EAMCET on my first attempt.
Since we were not in a position to pay donations to private engineering colleges, I decided to pursue AMIE and moved to Chennai. Within six months, I realized it was impractical to study mechanical engineering subjects without practical exposure. So, I returned to my hometown.
I then joined long-term coaching for EAMCET, located 60 km away from my home. I used to wake up at 4 AM, catch a train at 6 AM to Vizag, return home by bus at 5 PM, and practice late into the night. I followed this routine for six months — but again, no luck.
Eventually, I had to settle for a Bachelor of Science. But I continued preparing for another three years and finally secured Rank 32 in my Master’s entrance examination. If I count the years before witnessing success, it took exactly six years!
Sometimes, I share this story with my children and students as a proud moment -like Muhammad Ghori, who attacked 17 times before succeeding!
You might be wondering why I am boring you with my story. But if you read the following story, my effort seems minuscule. I was deeply inspired by the story of Amuthavalli Manivannan.
At 49, Amuthavalli from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, revived her long-paused dream of becoming a doctor. A former physiotherapist whose medical studies were halted due to financial constraints, she rediscovered her passion while helping her 18-year-old daughter, Samyuktha, prepare for the NEET examination.
Mother and daughter bonded over late-night study sessions, sharing textbooks and explanations. Late nights turned into shared nights. Both cleared NEET this year: Amuthavalli scored 147 marks, securing a seat at a nearby government medical college, and Samyuktha scored an impressive 450 marks and is awaiting her preferred seat.
Their story proves that some dreams do not die; they simply pause until the right moment to reignite. Hats off to Amuthavalli!
We often see parents moving to Kota or other coaching hubs, staying with their children for two years, investing money and time. But rarely do we see parents studying alongside their children. In a way, my mother also belongs to this rare category — she pursued her second bachelor’s degree just to motivate us to study.
Sometimes, in the evenings, I walk through slums and semi-middle-class lanes just to observe life. These days, I often see mothers watching reels on their phones while their children sit with books in hand, occasionally glancing at the television.
It makes me wonder: Will you prepare for the entrance examination along with your children?
Ravi Saripalle
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