06/06/2025
میری کہانی سُنو ❣️
I hope that my CSS story works as a glimmering hope for that aspirant who is witnessing setbacks after setbacks. Never look at someone's success from his/her current status, dress, comforts or smiles. Try to introspect how they've endured life before finally making it to that point. For many like me, success is not accomplished by chance. Years of burning the midnight oil, persistent hard work, various pressures and longings have characterized my CSS journey before the day of May 4th(2024) —when my darting eyes finally found my name in the result document after sipping tea at the Quetta cafe in Hyatabad,Peshawar.
I graduated in mid-2019 from QAU and had all geared up for the 2020 CSS attempt. A week before the Feb 2020 CSS exam, I found myself in the coronavirus patients' ward that pierced my every hope and energy. Gathering all my optimistic existence, I revised my notes and exams tips for the next attempt. A month before Feb 2021, I met a fatal incident which shattered every aspect of my life... But still, with a reinvigorated self, I began chasing my dream afresh to attempt the CSS 2022 exam. But fate had another pathogen lurking in the dark for me. Four days before the exam, I experienced an unprecedented surge in my body temperature. After diagnosing it, it was found that I was suffering from dengue!
Some would call it a misfortune; others would question my preparation, dismissing it as mere pretence to avoid the exam—only I knew the weight of the storm I was weathering in silence. However, my few friends and family would call it Allah's plan to endow me with something better. And I concurred with the latter. For me, the challenge was not study, it was maintaining my motivation and upholding the belief in my dream. And, I maintained it, I uphold it with Allah's almighty assistance in multiple ways.
So, if there is anyone out there who struggles with an issue of even a different nature—financial, health, relationship, family etc— let me tell them you are not alone, I can relate to you. Never give up, never let your dream sink under the hubris of your hardships. Never assume that it's only you who have challenges. Never think that you'll accomplish your dream only when you have zero problems around you. Learn to study alongside issues. I can assure you that the day your searching and 'darting eyes' find your name in the list, 80% of your issues will disappear the same day and solutions for the remaining 20% would become easier.
Finally, I assure you that all your hardships, your awakened nights and missed events will be compensated by Allah almighty that day. You'll be proud of yourself, of your mind and your pen. Good luck.
Sohail Afridi, PAS
CSS 2023,
The ex-FATA topper,
Under-training at CSA, Lahore. ☘️📚🖊️🥰
(An Urdu excerpt from my diary is here)
جب
نتائج کی لسٹ پر نظریں دوڑاتا رہا
دل دھڑک رہا تھا، امید کمزور تھی،
مگر جیسے ہی میری نظریں اپنے نام پر ٹھہریں،
میرے اندر ایک طوفان سا تھم گیا۔
میرا نام تھا — کامیاب امیدواروں میں۔
وہ ایک لمحہ،
میرے مہینوں کی تھکن، اور تنہائیوں کی قیمت ادا کر گیا۔
یہ کہانی صرف میری نہیں،
ہر اُس خواب دیکھنے والے کی ہے
جو گر کر بھی، خود کو اٹھاتا ہے،
اور پھر سے حوصلے کے ساتھ،
اپنے مقصد کی طرف بڑھتا ہے۔
