Two kids from my extended family got 99 percentile in JEE Main after studying in Kota. Later my dad said, “Where did we go wrong in our upbringing that our child couldn’t make it to IIT?”

That didn’t sit right with me. Exams like JEE aren’t just about intelligence or upbringing—they depend heavily on the ecosystem: coaching, regular mocks, guidance, peer competition, and a focused environment. Doing it from home without these is objectively harder.

What people don’t see is that home isn’t always calm. There are constant distractions and mental stress from past experiences, yet the comparisons continue. I’m preparing for boards and exams like NDA and genuinely trying my best, but that effort feels invisible.

How do you protect your mental health and stay focused in this kind of situation?