Students told to never give up till they reach their goal

The Hindu

18-05-2025

Sharing deeply personal accounts of perseverance and grit, Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum and Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa motivated a large gathering of students and parents during the 23rd edition of The Hindu EducationPlus Career Counselling event at the Poojya Doddappa Appa Sabha Mantapa, SB College Campus (Sharnbasva University), Kalaburagi on Sunday.
'Don't assume that lack of money, exposure, influence, academic environment or fluency in English will prevent you from achieving your dreams. All these things, indeed, don't matter before your determined mind. None of us is born a Deputy Commissioner. We faced the same struggles that many of you are facing today. With a positive mindset and hard work, nothing can stop you from reaching your goals,' Ms. Taranum said.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Ms. Taranum described herself as an overprotected child with limited exposure.
'I didn't attend any elite or so-called prestigious schools with specific career goals. My parents insisted I go to an all-girls school near our house. I only entered a co-educational institution during my post-graduation. My parents were unaware of the broader academic landscape but my schoolteachers stepped in to guide me,' she said.
Ms. Taranum recounted how she left no stone unturned while preparing for the UPSC exams, especially as her decision to pursue Civil Services went against her family's wishes.
'I cleared both prelims and mains with good scores on my first attempt but faltered in the interview due to nervousness. I accepted a post in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), but the dream of joining the IAS was still alive in me. I secretly prepared again while working as an IRS officer and cleared the exam with an all-India rank of 31,' she said.
Choking with emotion, she added, 'I was afraid to inform my grandfather, but he was overjoyed when I finally achieved my goal.' She urged parents to support their children, especially daughters, in their academic and career aspirations.
Earlier, Mr. Sharanappa narrated his struggles and hardships during his college days describing himself as 'an aimless and confused wanderer' in his early years.
'I simply fell in line with others with no specific career goal. After completing II PU, I enrolled in B.Sc in Agriculture. At one point, I doubted whether I could even secure a scholarship for post-graduation. But with encouragement from those around me, I passed the ICAR exam and pursued a master's degree, eventually beginning a Ph.D. The decision to attempt the Civil Services came much later. If someone like me, who had no clear direction and made the decision quite late, could crack the UPSC exam, so can each one of you,' he said, urging students to never give up, regardless of the challenges they face.
He credited The Hindu newspaper for playing a significant role in building his general knowledge and awareness of current affairs during his preparation and encouraged students to make it part of their study routine.
President of the Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sharanabasappa M. Pappa commended The Hindu for its consistent efforts to support students in Tier-II cities through career counselling initiatives.
Chartered Accountant Sumit R. Bharadia, who is secretary of the Kalaburagi Branch of the Southern India Regional Council (SIRC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, offered insights into becoming a Chartered Accountant.
'The Chartered Accountant course is one of the most affordable and highly rewarding. It is in great demand, well-paid and recognised in over 100 countries. All you need is patience and hard work,' he said.
Member of the National Executive Council of the Indian Society for Technical Education (New Delhi) S.B. Sangappa outlined diverse courses and career paths in engineering.
Director of the Kalaburagi Regional Centre of Visvesvaraya Technological University Shambu Lingappa highlighted postgraduate opportunities across disciplines.
UPSC exam coach and career counsellor from CIGMA Syed Sadath Pasha elaborated on a wide array of career options beyond medicine and engineering.
Senior Grade Lecturer at Government Polytechnic Kalaburagi and former KEA Nodal Officer Nagaraj M. provided a detailed explanation of the CET process.
The Hindu Career Counselling Handbook, which contains detailed information on various career options, entrance exams, and top educational institutions, was given to every student who attended the event.