Sana Bhateja: Start Small, Stay Consistent, and Let Clarity Come Through Action (Co-Founder - The Inquisitive Mind,122K Followers)

“How failure, balance, and intention shaped a mentor trusted by thousands of students”

Q. Before CUET, content creation, and mentorship, what was the first real shift for you: mindset, confidence, or responsibility?

The first real shift for me was failure. I faced it for the first time when I didn’t clear NEET. What made it harder was knowing that I hadn’t given my absolute 100%, and I also wasn’t allowed to take a drop year. Until then, failure had never been part of my story. I had always scored above 90%, and academics felt like my safest space.

Suddenly, that cushion disappeared. There was no second chance and no backup plan. I gave CUET and a few private entrance exams, but that phase wasn’t just about exams. It was about sitting with disappointment, uncertainty, and the feeling of having let myself and my parents down.

That experience changed how I thought about life. It pushed me to look beyond admissions and rankings and reflect on what I actually wanted to build. During that time, I became very aware of a larger issue: students were putting in effort but lacked clarity. No backup plans, no direction, just blind dependence on one outcome and lifelong regret if it didn’t work.

I already had responsibility; I was teaching Class 10 students at our own centre, and confidence was never my limitation. But failure reshaped me. It made me more empathetic, more aware, and more intentional. What started as a personal setback quietly turned into purpose, and that became the foundation of my journey into mentorship and content creation.

Q. From your daily interaction with students, what do they worry about the most that matters the least, and what do they ignore but shouldn’t?

I see two extreme kinds of students every day, and both worry me.

The first group is hyper-focused. Their entire identity revolves around college, career, skills, and outcomes. On the surface, they look disciplined and ambitious, but internally they’re exhausted. Life becomes so result-driven that one rejection feels like everything is over. Their emotional dependence on outcomes is frightening.

The second group is the opposite. They live by “jo hoga dekha jaayega.” Flexibility is healthy, but having no direction, no seriousness, and no sense of responsibility quietly becomes dangerous. Time moves fast, and reality hits hard when years are lost without intention.

What most students overlook is balance. They either take life so seriously that it consumes them, or they take it so lightly that they drift. Very few are taught how to stand in the middle i.e to care deeply without burning out, and to stay calm without becoming careless. That middle ground is where real growth actually happens.

Q. For students who don’t get their dream DU college, what practical steps can still help them build networks and exposure?

DU is not the end of your life.

I’ve seen students from private colleges and other central universities do just as well, sometimes even better than students from the most celebrated campuses. What matters far more than the college name is how intentionally you use your environment.

The first step is to take your backup seriously, not emotionally. Universities like BHU, JNU, JMI, Ambedkar University, and even well-chosen private colleges offer strong exposure if students engage instead of constantly comparing. Disappointment wastes time. Engagement builds direction.

Second, join societies aligned with your long-term goals. Societies are not just about certificates; they’re spaces where you meet driven peers, seniors, and mentors. That’s where leadership, collaboration, and networking actually begin.

Third, show up beyond your own campus. Attend seminars, conclaves, competitions, fests, and placement events even if they’re happening elsewhere. Exposure comes from where you choose to participate, not just where you study.

Alongside this, start networking early. Talk to seniors, ask questions, and seek internships as soon as possible, especially with startups. Startups teach you multiple skills quickly and show you what real work looks like beyond textbooks.

Q. If a first-year DU student has limited time and no clarity, which 2–3 skills should they start with?

This depends on the individual, but when clarity is missing, I simplify it into three essential skill areas.

The first is soft skills. Communication, basic professionalism, relationship-building, and accountability shape everything else. These aren’t built through courses but through daily interactions with societies, group work, events, and simply showing up with intention.

The second is a core or technical skill connected to future work. This could be writing, research, data analysis, coding, content creation, editing, or anything that can eventually translate into real value or income. This skill needs focused effort early on.

The third is upgradation. Students should keep upgrading themselves through short courses, workshops, certifications, and learning resources. This keeps them adaptable as interests evolve.

You don’t need to do everything at once. Start small, stay consistent, and let clarity come through action. Skills compound. Direction often follows effort.

Q. While mentoring thousands of anxious students, how do you protect your mental space and avoid burnout?

My students are genuinely my safe space. It might sound cliché, but it’s true. Mentoring gives me a strong sense of purpose, and helping someone find clarity brings a quiet happiness that doesn’t feel draining.

That said, burnout is real. When I feel overwhelmed, I take intentional breaks even if it’s just a day or two. Complete disconnection helps. No work, no social media, no constant input. That pause allows me to reset.

I also rely on stillness meditation, prayer, and grounding moments to help me stay centred. And being around my family keeps me anchored. They remind me who I am beyond roles and responsibilities.

For me, protecting mental peace isn’t about doing less. It’s about knowing when to pause, recharge, and return stronger.

Bio

Sana Bhateja is a digital creator, education mentor, and student guide who works at the intersection of clarity, career planning, and emotional balance. She has mentored thousands of students across India and leads a learning community of over 100,000+ students through her digital platforms.

She is the Co-Founder of The Inquisitive Mind, an education initiative focused on bridging gaps in guidance, informed decision-making, and long-term thinking beyond rankings and labels. Sana has also served as the Vice President of her department during college.

Shaped by personal academic setbacks and deep on-ground interaction with students, she strongly advocates balanced growth, skill development, and intentional choices. She is currently a student at Gargi College, University of Delhi, and continues to mentor students navigating CUET, college life, and early career decisions.

Instagram: Sana Bhateja

Interviewed by Monika Bhardwaj