A Comparative Study on Resilience, Stress and Aspirations among Aspirants and Non-Aspirants

Abstract

India is the 2nd highest populous country with the world’s 3rd largest education system, but the job opportunities provided massively require changes both in qualitatively and quantitatively. Every 5 out of 100 Indians decide to serve their nation by joining the Armed Forces or The Civil Services and about 20,000 – 11,00,000 students are assessed each year, only 200 -1500 of whom are selected. These exams can prove to be highly stressful; this stress can be explained as any physical or emotional strain caused by any type of change in the environment of an individual. For e.g.: Stress in a person could be the pressure for a potential test. These aspiring students are assessed on their ability to grow and thrive in the face of challenges and bounce back from adversity as these services hold many unpredictable situations. For e.g.: Overcoming the death of a dear colleague in line of action. Not only this but plenty of candidates do not give up until they meet their target of achieving what they aspire to be and apply for these assessments repeatedly which shows how high spirited and determined they are. Because of their high strength of character and hardiness towards their goals they are all extremely aspiring and work hard to fulfill their expectations and goals. Aspiration could stand for a purpose, an aim or any ultimate goal that can be accomplished through personal efforts. The ones who thereafter are selected in the process are extremely stressful, durable, and highly aspiring candidates. This study analyzes the level of pressure, endurance, and expectations of the aspirants in relation to non-aspirants. A common measuring tool has been used to test their levels of tension, endurance, and expectations. The results depicted a significant difference in stress, resilience and career aspirations among aspirants and non-aspirants. With a notion of belief that aspirants are more stressful than non-aspirants, the study reveals some contradicting results showing that aspirants are in fact less stressful than non-aspirants.