NEET 2020 exam topper Soyeb Aftab's inspiring story

NEET 2020 exam topper Soyeb Aftab says, "I had told my father that I will return only when I have achieved my dreams. And that has happened today."  

Soyeb Aftab from Odisha emerged as the All India Topper, scoring 720 out of 720, in the NEET 2020 examination conducted by the National Testing Agency. 

The results of the examination were announced yesterday.

Soon after the results were out and celebrations began, Soyeb shared his success story.

"I arrived in Kota in April 2018 with the dream that in 2020 when the NEET exam will happen, I will at least secure a selection. There are no doctors in my family. So, the expectations were not that high. But with the right kind of guidance and motivation that I received I started believing that I could make it to the top 500," Soyeb said

"With time, the scores started improving. I started getting around 712 in my tests. My belief grew that I could get into top 50 or top 100. I never expected that I would hit 720. There was a slow rise in my marks."

"Covid-19 lockdown was a turning point. I utilised that time properly. I didn't go back home. I haven't been home since I arrived in Kota in 2018. I had told my father that I will return only when I have achieved my dreams. And that has happened today."

"Focus used to be on trying to score the maximum. The exams kept getting postponed because of coronavirus. There was immense pressure. But I kept telling myself that I should remain calm and utilise the three-hour time allotted for the test. My mother motivated me a lot."