May’23 cohort Misfits fellow | Appreciation mail to Naman sir & Shatakshi ma’am
Hi Naman Sir & Shatakshi Ma’am,
I’m a misfit from the May 2023 cohort. This is the first time I’m writing to you and I really hope you get to read this.
I’m XX right now and after completing my YYY from ZZZ, I was confused regarding my career aspirations. I always wanted to work in a setting where my work could contribute to the society. I dreamt of working in a space where policy, tech, business and analytics could combine together. That is when I stumbled across Shatakshi’s maam post on LinkedIn regarding GGI. As Idelved deep into it, I got introduced to Naman’s sir YouTube channel.
I remember you saying that in misfits we don’t follow the orthodox methods of UPSC preparation rather we learn to use BCG matrix, Porter’s principles, McKinsey reports and so on.. It left a mark in my mind that this is exactly what i was looking for. A teacher who can relate things. Someone who can build on and connect everything from my MBA learnings to policy to geopolitics. (Geopolitics has always interested me so that was a soft corner anyway).
It was only then that I decided, Istill have 2 years to at least give myself a chance to attempt the UPSC and that’s when I enrolled into misfits.
Though I’m working in a full time job right now as a marketing analyst and I know that it is a bit late for me to start the preparation but everyday I make sure that I take out time to watch my personal Netflix episode of “misfits recorded lecture”. I must say, I truly enjoy the videos. It brings out the curiosity within me. It enables me to think critically.
I have read a lot of nonsense regarding misfits and Naman sir and Shatakshi maam on Internet but I wish I could tell those folks that — Both of you are a gem to our society. Only if they could realize how magical are our misfits sessions.
The way you have taught history, geography, economics and polity is something I could never have dreamt of. I’m truly indebted to Shatakshi ma’am via whom I got introduced to this beautiful GGI/Misfits community.
UPSC preparation can be so eye opening, enlightening and like a Netflix episode — I realized this only after watching misfits recorded video lectures.
I have a senior IAS officer in my family and based on how he mentions about UPSC preparation and everything, it used to scare me to hell. I used to feel embarrassed and scared to even tell myself that I want to prepare for UPSC. But watching your videos on YouTube and misfits recordings — I’ve gained confidence. I now believe that if I can do things the way you keep saying — It might not be as difficult or scary the way it was narrated in my home.
Though it becomes difficult at times to take out time and go through lectures but as the popular saying goes:
“There can be 100 reasons for not doing a thing and only 1 reason of doing it.”
So what is it that you choose? That one reason or those 100 excuses? Everyday I’m choosing the former option over the latter.
I would conclude my long post by saying that — You’re not preparing folks for UPSC(that’s a relatively easier task.) Rather, you are making all of us a better well-informed citizens of India and that will have ripple effects going further because down the line I’m going to tell my friends/family/kids that I met a person/community that made me feel self-aware.
I’ve started to love my country like I never did before. May god bless both of you and give you lots of strength and good health so that you could carry on this mission further.
#BestWishes from one of your misfit who deeply respects both of you!
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Regards,
A proud misfitter
