July 18, 2025
First Doctor In The Village
The dreams in the remote village of Nelua, in the heart of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, are typically constrained by geography, economic hardships and opportunity deprivation. Not in the case of Anita Sahoo who shattered all odds to be the first doctor in her village. Her life is not just a success story, it is a wake-up call to thousands of rural dreamers in India that dreams have no postal address.
From Physics Student to Future Doctor
In the year 2021, Anita registered herself in a Physics course in her Higher Secondary year. However, something did not seem right. It was a dream of her father that gradually became her dream to see her wearing the white coat someday. Such a change of mentality transformed Anita into a NEET warrior.
She appeared in the NEET exam five times in the following four years and was brokenhearted after every attempt. Having scored 190 in her first attempt to eventually attaining AIR 11,626 in NEET Result 2025, the story of Anita is a legend.
The Power of Grit: Beating All Odds
Between 2021 and 2024, Anita’s NEET scores kept inching closer to the cutoff. In 2024, she scored 629, missing the 633 cutoff by just a few marks.
Each failure took a toll. But what held her together was a combination of three things:
- Unwavering support from her parents, especially her father.
- A powerful community of mentors at PrepMed.
Finding Light in the Dark: PrepMed’s Role
Anita was never alone in her journey. She credits PrepMed for being the backbone of her preparation. For four years, she was a full-time student of their online program, using every tool at her disposal:
- Live interactive classes
- Mock tests (ATS)
- 40-minute one-on-one doubt-clearing sessions
- Video bank access for backlog management
Even during her mental low points, when personal distractions started affecting her studies, PrepMed’s faculty stepped in. Mentors like Prateek Sir, Rima Ma'am, and RG Sir went above and beyond to ensure she didn’t spiral. She openly shared her struggles, and they offered her guidance, understanding, and constant motivation.
To hear Anita herself talk about these moments, click here and watch her full NEET topper interview with Dr. Debajyoti Sir.
The Village That Believed
Nelua had never produced a doctor before. Anita’s journey gave her village something more than pride; it gave them hope. For years, she studied under a kerosene lamp, with no access to the best NEET coaching in Kolkata or urban resources. But now, her name is etched in the PrepMed NEET result list and in the hearts of every child in her community.
When her result came out, neighbours who once questioned her decisions brought sweets to her house. For the young girls of Nelua, Anita isn’t just a doctor; she’s a living symbol of what's possible.
NEET Preparation Tips from Anita’s Journey
Preparing for NEET isn't just about studying hard; it's about preparing smartly, staying mentally resilient, and making consistent progress even when it feels impossible. Here are her top NEET preparation tips, enriched with real insights from her own journey.
1. Patience is Non-Negotiable
One of the strongest lessons Anita learned was to stay patient, even when everything around her was falling apart. Imagine preparing for four consecutive years and still missing the NEET cutoff by just four marks in your fourth attempt. That was Anita’s reality in 2024.
She recalls breaking down emotionally. Opening an NCERT book would make her cry, not out of fear, but because of the trauma of repeating the same routine with no guarantee of success.
2. Parent Support is Powerful
Anita’s parents were her pillar of strength. Especially her father, who not only encouraged her but also helped her decide to drop out for NEET 2025 when she was hesitant.
Many aspirants feel pressure from their families to settle or take up alternative courses. But Anita’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right kind of emotional and moral support, students can turn setbacks into setups for comebacks.
If you’re a parent reading this, believe in your child’s potential. Your faith could be the push they need.
3. Stick to One Mentor, One Platform
The digital world is flooded with free advice, YouTube channels, Telegram groups, and free PDFs.
Switching from one platform to another might give you short-term satisfaction, but it only causes confusion and inconsistency in the long run. Trust one expert voice, whether it’s a coaching institute, a mentor, or a study plan, and follow it throughout the year.
4. Self-Belief Over Everything
Self-doubt was Anita’s biggest enemy. Like many students, she battled negative thinking, wondering if she was cut out for this path.
Anita’s advice: if someone, even a close friend, is becoming a source of demotivation, cut ties. You don’t need that energy when you’re working toward the biggest goal of your life.
Surround yourself with positive people, even if it’s just one or two. Her friend Chandrima, for instance, cleared NEET the year before, but still cheered Anita on every step of the way, messaging her, calling her, and celebrating her success like it was her own.
5. Manage Mental Distractions Proactively
It’s not just academics that can break your rhythm; emotional and relationship-related distractions are common, especially during long prep periods. Anita acknowledges that she, too, went through such phases, and those were some of the hardest times to stay focused.
She shared her situation with Prateek Sir, Rima Ma’am, and RG Sir from PrepMed. Instead of brushing it aside, they listened, understood, and helped her refocus. That support was vital to preventing a total collapse before the NEET 2025 exam.
Conclusion
Anita Sahoo’s journey proves that failure is never final unless you quit. From a rural girl unsure about NCERT in 2021 to one of the most inspiring names in the NEET Result 2025, she shows us what happens when grit meets guidance.
If you're a student or a parent, reading this, let Anita’s story fuel your journey.
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