For instance, after every 1st rank in my primary school I tried to achieve another. But those were comparatively simpler times when compared to my present struggles.
I tried to face tougher challenges subsequent to the admission into my present high school. My struggles initiated just as I looked to settle down in a new country with my family. As the transition was difficult and complicated, I had to appear for two mid term examinations, two admission tests, adjust to the new high school courses and to the new surroundings which were dominated by well-established student achievers. For some incomprehensible reasons I didn’t find the initial response from my peers and instructors very welcoming, maybe because I had made a modest entry with 88% in exams when the rest of the class was filled with prodigious students. The other reason for the behaviour (which I describe as unfriendly) could have been my late special admission into the school at a time it restricted entries due to limited capacity. However, this was only a social challenge that I overcame in some time as I settled down and my grades started to resemble former performances of primary school. This improvement obviously wasn’t just due to my persistent efforts but also encompassed support from my professors who got to know me better overtime. 
Once settled in my new school, I tried to maintain the high grades and repeat good performances. Later, as my class position improved to “scholar” ranks, I aimed to get academic edge over other bright students. I approached my professors for help, stayed back for evening classes after school three times a week. I even attempted questions provided by my Olympiad resources, through which I was introduced to topics that weren’t taught at school because of their high difficulty levels. My professors were very motivating and helped me improve my arithmetic and problem solving skills by conducting challenging classes after school in the evening. These classes were scheduled for syllabus that included topics from puzzle books, Olympiad guides and the successive grades. But the issue of organising these volunteered classes was resolved once my high school invited FIITJEE (Forum of Indian Institute of Technology and Joint Entrance Exam) school affiliated coaching program that trained students for university entrance exams in India.

I joined this coaching program which was much more rigorous than the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) school curriculum. My friends and I attended after school classes (of 2 hours) three days a week, 5 hour Saturday morning classes and some doubt resolution sessions on Sundays/ Thursdays along with the regular 5 day school. The amount of extra time spent at FIITJEE was (in my opinion) extremely fruitful as our class was introduced to additional concepts related to our school syllabus or topics that we were to learn in subsequent years. This meant that we learnt 10th grade trigonometry, 11th grade kinematics and organic chemistry all in 9th grade and 12th grade calculus in the 10th grade. Along with the regular school examinations and weekly tests, we had to also appear for three phase tests in one academic year. These phase tests were formatted in accordance with the IIT (Indian Institute of technology) entrance exam design and tested our knowledge of the additional/tougher concepts taught in the class. Our rigorous training even extended into our vacation period, shortening it by one month when compared to that of regular school students. 

The glimpses of success, following this hard work, first appeared in my Olympiad results. The earliest encouragement in my 9th grade was a gold medal in the National Talent Search Contest (NTSC): Mathematics (Senior Category) organised by Central Institute of General Knowledge Learning. This result was followed by distinctions in ASSET exam organised by Educational Initiatives in winter of 2010, 13th SOF NSO (National Science Olympiad), 4th SOF IMO (International Math Olympiad) and SOF IEO (International English Olympiad) all organised by SOF (Science Olympiad Foundation). My professors were very pleased and encouraged me to work harder than before. Now I looked to solve numerical problems even during the long delays in the Doha traffic. Few weeks later I was delighted and cheerless at the same instant when I was declared as the runner up in the second phase test of the year but missed the 1st rank by just 5 points (1 correct question).