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Every SSB aspirant starts with a dream.
But very few know how to turn that dream into a clear, confident, authentic version of themselves. Balaji’s story is for those aspirants who are stuck somewhere in the middle—working hard, confused about what’s going wrong, and silently hoping that one day it will all make sense. Here’s how it did for him.
15-11-2025
“My real preparation began when I realised the biggest story I needed to understand was my own.”
From Raigarh to India’s Finest Mathematics Institute
Balaji grew up in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Like most students, he followed the usual academic path—joined NIT Raipur for ECE engineering. But something didn’t feel right. His heart wasn’t in it.
And when you’re honest with yourself, you know when you’re meant for something else.
So he made a bold decision—he dropped out after a year and joined Chennai Mathematical Institute, India’s best college for Mathematics.
Why?
Because he loved maths.
Little did he know that this decision would open a completely new world for him.
Adventure, Purpose & the First Spark of the Defence Dream
During his time at CMI, Balaji explored mountaineering and skiing in Manali.The mountains do something to you—they remind you of your strength, resilience, and desire for something bigger.Slowly, an adventurous life began pulling him.After his 1st year in CMI, he knew what he wanted:A life of adventure, thrill, responsibility and purpose — the Indian Armed Forces.
The Search for the Right Guidance
Like every aspirant, Balaji needed direction.
He joined a coaching institute in Nagpur. But soon, he realised something important: Generic coaching doesn’t work for SSB.
Personal attention does. He wanted someone who could understand him, guide him, correct him, and bring out his genuine qualities—not polish him into someone else.
That’s when he came across R2R.
What mattered to him were three things:
✔ Faculty had cleared SSB multiple times
✔ Shashank Sir had a Master’s degree in Psychology
✔ And they promised personalised feedback Balaji trusted that. And that made all the difference.
The Nights of Feedback & The Days of Practice
Balaji remembers the effort the faculty put in. He says the faculty used to review his mocks till late night—even when they had other tasks. This stayed with him.
For the first time, he felt he wasn’t preparing alone. He followed every concept taught in R2R, revised repeatedly, and most importantly, he applied every single piece of feedback. And the results started showing.
From Complex Stories to Honest Narratives
When he went for his actual SSB, he was surprised: Out of 11 pictures shown, 9 were the same types he had practiced at R2R. The material wasn’t random.
It was exactly what an aspirant needs. And in SSB, familiarity breeds confidence.
A Journey Through Failures: NDA → PES → CDS
Balaji didn’t crack SSB overnight. • After 12th, he was screened out in NDA
• In his PES entry, again screened out
• But in CDS — he finally got recommended His journey is proof that screen outs don’t define you.
Consistency does.
Balaji’s Biggest Challenge: Fear of the Unknown
The most stressful part of SSB for him was the thought: “What if I don’t get any idea in 30 seconds?
What story will come?
Will I write in time?” But he overcame it the only way it can be overcome: ✔ He stayed calm
✔ Practiced regularly
✔ Memorised themes
✔ And kept his stories simple
That’s how he cracked it.
Balaji’s Message to Every SSB Aspirant
“Keep working hard. One day you’ll realise it was all worth it.Take feedback seriously, especially the ones you get repeatedly from different people. That’s where your actual improvement lies.”
What You Can Learn from His Journey
Balaji’s success wasn’t luck.
It was a combination of:
⭐ Self-awareness
⭐ Honest feedback
⭐ Consistent practice
⭐ Personalised guidance And if you feel lost in your SSB preparation, his journey is your reminder: You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to be your best self —
and have the right mentors to guide you there.
If You’re an SSB Aspirant…
Balaji’s story is proof that with the right guidance, clarity, and feedback, you can transform your journey too.
If you ever feel the need for structured guidance, personalised reviews, and mentors who care about your growth just like they cared about Balaji’s —R2R is always there for you.
Not to prepare you for SSB…
But to prepare you for your best version.
Click here to checkout the courses
Prachi Parmar
Sharing stories, R2R