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Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): One may have to sacrifice social media as well as social life, and use budget phones instead of smartphones while preparing for civil services examination or pursuing any dream, but these sacrifices will ultimately lead to bigger rewards, said Viku L Achumi, who secured the All-India rank (AIR) 567 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services exam 2021, the result of which was declared last month.
The Central Nagaland Students’ Association (CNSA) on Friday organised a felicitation programme for the two candidates from Nagaland, who cleared the prestigious UPSC exam. The event was held at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur.
The other candidate who cracked the exam was Imsennaro Walling from Mokokchung. She secured AIR 585.
Speaking at the event, Achumi said that while pursuing one’s dream, “we may sacrifice a lot of things and those small sacrifice that you make in life will add up to give you a huge reward in the need”.
He advised the aspirants to strive towards the person that they want to become while preparing for exams and encouraged everyone ‘not to give up on their dreams’.
‘Before you embark your journey in life, whatever maybe your dreams, asses your capabilities, strengths and weakness first, and based on your assessment, once you take your decisions, just focus on the one thing you are aiming for,’ he said.
He said that ‘one must have a clear reason and motive on why they are pursuing their dreams, and the reason behind in aiming for such dreams’.
Assuring that he would be always available to guide and encourage the younger aspirants, who are preparing for UPSC examination, he said ‘anyone can approach him anytime’.
Achumi went on to say that he was able to succeed because of his parents’ prayer. ‘The most important thing is we should keep God first and everything will come into its place,’ he concluded.
Speaking at the event, Imsennaro Walling said that she had the privilege to work with underprivileged children and refugees while she was doing her undergraduate degree, “which was one of the reasons that made me more determined to achieve apposition in life to interact and help the needy and the downtrodden”.
She said that she had set her eyes on a goal since her college days and did not lose sight of it till she achieved, even though she faced several challenges during the course of her preparation. She added that “each of them (challenges) has only strengthened me to make the person I am today”.
‘Apart from the manifold duties and responsibilities, the civil services provide the opportunity, resources and diversity to work with the most vulnerable sections of society,’ she said.
Sharing about her preparation for the UPSC exam, she said: “In my last two attempts, I did try my best but there was always someone better and I now realise that my strategy and planning needed improvement. In retrospect, I think it was a good thing because it made me want to do better than I ever did and was a time of reflection and personal growth.”
She said that it would not have been possible to clear the UPSC exam without the inspiration of her seniors and peers, whom she has the deepest respect and derived the strength to challenge herself to perform better at each stage.
“It would have been impossible to overcome the challenges without the support of my family who have stood by me at all times. Above all, it has been through God’s unending grace, mercy and love alone that I could come this far,” she said.
She also thanked everyone for helping her reach a stage where she could proudly hold up the recognition accorded by the CNSA as a mark of her achievement.
On a closing note, she encouraged the young Nagas saying: “We are capable of achieving any goal that we aim for, and all we have to do is never give up even if we are convinced that it is all over, because it is not over unless we want it to be and a true example is Viku and I here today”.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who also spokes at the event, said that today’s young people today need a disciplined life and take more time to read good books, gather necessary information and cultivate good habits.
Congratulating the two candidates, he said there is no shortcut to success and that it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to be successful. He added that the two candidates “have proven that no hurdle is too difficult if you have the zeal and determination to achieve it”.
‘Work with dedication and sincerity and let people judge by your service and be an inspiration wherever you go, and prove to others that Nagas are second to none; and given a chance, we can be an iconic and fine officers wherever we are placed,’ he told the two.
Maintaining that Nagaland has acute shortage of people who pass All India Services, he said the state will certainly need their services in the future even if they do not get initial home cadre.
The minister also said students and civil service aspirants should possess the right attitude, a positive mindset and a disciplined lifestyle, adding that “education gives you the weapon but it is you who choose and fight the battle”.
Also speaking at the programme, K Atoli Sema, President of Central Nagas Women Association (CNWA), urged the two to keep up their good qualities as they embark on their new career and continue to make Nagas proud through their good work.
On the formation of Central Naga Tribal Council (CNTC), she said that “though it is not our desire to form a smaller pocket within an already small pocket, the prevailing sorry-trend of tribalism in our state has compelled the formation of CNTC to fight against disparity meted out towards our community”.
President of CNTC, Lanu Imchen, also expressed hope that the two will serve the nation diligently and be a good example to the younger generation.