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Nine Attempts. One Belief. How Staying True Helped Him Clear SSB




For some people, the idea of joining the defence comes later in life.
For him, it was always there. Growing up in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, he was that kid who chose a fauji uniform whenever there was a fancy dress competition. Not because it looked good—but because, even as a child, he knew what kind of life he wanted to live. When he imagined his prime years, one thought stayed constant:
To serve the nation. To work with people driven by a shared purpose. To be part of something larger than himself. That clarity stayed with him as he stepped into the world of SSB preparation.

22-12-2025

“The day he stopped trying to become an ‘ideal candidate’ was the day the SSB finally saw him.”

The Long Road: 9 Attempts, One Question

Fast forward to his 9th attempt—SSC Tech 66, 11 SSB Allahabad—the attempt that finally ended with a recommendation.

But the journey until that point wasn’t easy.

Like many aspirants, he had knowledge, intent, and sincerity. Yet, something wasn’t clicking.

His biggest struggle wasn’t GTO obstacles or interview questions—it was presenting his true personality.

  • He didn’t know how to connect his PIQ to his stories
  • He felt stuck between what he was and what he thought assessors wanted
  • He tried to fit into a “correct answer” mould

And with every attempt, that gap only felt wider.

When “Perfect” Became the Problem

Before joining R2R, his approach was simple—but flawed. He saw SSB as:

  • Right vs wrong answers
  • Ideal responses vs risky honesty
  • Hiding some aspects, highlighting others
Every task became a performance. “I used to think—this is what assessors want, so this is what I should show.” But that effort to appear perfect slowly started distancing him from himself.

The Shift: Learning to Look Inward

Things changed when he was introduced to a structured way of self-introspection. Not motivation.
Not shortcuts.
But clarity. In R2R, he finally understood:

  • How to reflect on life experiences
  • How to link background, personality, and behaviour naturally
  • How to present himself without forcing answers
For the first time, SSB preparation felt real, not rehearsed. “I stopped trying to manufacture answers. I started understanding myself.”

What Changed in the 9th Attempt?

Interestingly, nothing dramatic : no over-preparation,no memorised responses, no sudden personality shift.
 What he did differently was keeping things simple and honest.

  • In GTO, he behaved the same way he did with fellow candidates in the dormitory
  • He stayed spontaneous instead of scripted
  • He didn’t try to imitate anyone else
  • He remained calm because he trusted his preparation
His mindset was clear:
Bas jaisa hoon, waisa hi rakhunga.
And that made all the difference.

The Result of Being Natural

Because he wasn’t trying to impress, he became more lively.
Because he wasn’t forcing answers, he stayed confident.
Because he wasn’t overthinking, he enjoyed the process.

And when pressure disappeared, authenticity took over.

That authenticity is what assessors finally saw.

His Message to Fellow Aspirants

“Nothing is right or wrong. We are just the way we are.” If you:

  • Truly self-introspect
  • Take the right guidance
  • Follow advice sincerely
  • And present yourself as you are
The result will eventually turn positive.

For Those Still on the Journey

If you’re a repeater…
If you feel you know things but still can’t express them…
If you feel stuck between being yourself and being selected…

Maybe the answer isn’t doing more.
Maybe it’s understanding yourself better.

And sometimes, all it takes is the right direction to see what was already within you.

Every recommendation has a story.
Some are about effort.
Some are about patience.
And some—like this one—are about finally being real.

Click here to checkout the courses

Prachi Parmar
Sharing Stories, R2R