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For many UPSC aspirants, the journey is one of long hours, loneliness and silent sacrifices. One such aspirant, Manvi Srivastava, shared how years of isolation while preparing for the exam left her feeling lost once it all ended. Her honest reflection has struck a deep chord with others who have walked a similar path. In her emotional Instagram video, Manvi looks back on how she devoted her entire youth to chasing a single dream, only to find herself unsure of who she had become when it was over. Her story reflects the unseen struggles that come with intense academic preparation, struggles that many rarely discuss. “I Gave My 20s To It” In the video, Manvi says, “They say UPSC changes you, they never said it leaves nothing untouched. I gave my 20s to it. Locked myself away. Sacrificed birthdays, people, smiles.” She goes on to admit that when the long process finally ended, she didn’t recognise herself anymore. “Somewhere between chasing UPSC and losing sleep, I lost myself too,” she adds. The clip shows her sitting before her laptop, staring at an almost blank résumé, something she describes as a painful reminder of how much she had given up. “This is what isolation does to you,” she says. “Main apni zindagi ka pehla resume banane baithi hoon and main apne aap ko itna negatively dekhti hoon ki mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha hai ki main iss mei likhoon kya.” After spending five years preparing for the civil services exam and now planning to enter the corporate world, Manvi confessed she feels she has “no skill set” to show for it. “My laptop screen reflects someone who knows too much about failure, and too little about living,” she says, adding that she is struggling to believe in herself again. Aspirant’s Message To Others Despite her pain, Manvi used her experience to remind others not to lose sight of themselves while chasing their dreams. “If you’re isolating yourself for your dream, please, don’t lose yourself chasing it. You’ll need you when it’s all over. Take care of your mental health before anything else,” she mentions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manvi Srivastava (@discipline.over.motivation.now) People Share Their Own Stories Shared on October 29, the clip racked up over 1 lakh views so far. The video has received hundreds of comments as well from others who said they could relate deeply to her emotions. A user wrote, “This is so personal. I can relate to every single word. Every single thing you wanted to say and lived is the story of every UPSC aspirant.” Another commented, “I also transitioned from UPSC prep to the corporate world, and it can definitely feel overwhelming at first. But trust me, with time and a bit of patience, you’ll find your footing.” A person shared, “Can totally see myself creating this CV in a similar manner a few years back. Trust me, things will get so much better from here. Sending you strength and a tight hug.” “After 4 failed attempts, yes upsc changed me, It killed my hobbies, my body, my mind,” an individual wrote.
