Radhika Gupta AIR 2 (99.6%)

Radhika Gupta, a student of DPS Greater Noida, scored 498 marks out of 500 in the CBSE class 10th Board examinations. She scored a perfect 100 in French, Maths, Science and Social Science. She just lost 2 marks in English and secured AIR 2. She has opted for Science stream and would like to pursue engineering in the future. She loves horse riding and has won several medals in it. She has also qualified NTSE stage 1 and is awaiting results for stage 2. This all-rounder is an enthusiastic French learner as well. She has qualified DELF B1(The Diplôme d’études en langue française, or DELF for short, is a certification of French-language abilities for non-native speakers of French administered by the International Centre for French Studies for France’s Ministry of Education.) She loves watching sports on TV as well. She believes that it helps her to reduce stress. In this interview to Priya Sarin, this exceptionally talented girl will share some amazing study secrets to guide her juniors on their path to success. Let’s pay heed to the winner and learn a thing or two from this sweet, wise girl.

School is the very foundation of every student’s education. And the role that the parents play in their child’s success can never be undermined. How did your teachers and parents help you achieve this feat?
My school played a very important role in this entire journey. My teachers were really helpful. They explained me all the concepts really well, cleared all my doubts, conducted extra classes and most importantly motivated me towards the final goal. Our school conducted a lot of exams which helped me to analyze my mistakes. The environment in our school helped not only me but all the students to perform well. The healthy competition among the students in our school motivated all of us to push our limits. My parents have been really supportive. Whatever I have achieved in my life is because of them. They have never pressurized me. They encourage me a lot. Whenever I feel stressed, I talk to them. They help me to stay calm and composed. Lastly, I would like to say, it’s not only my efforts but the combined efforts of my parents and teachers that helped me achieve this feat.

Your friends influence your behavior. Do you agree? If yes, how do you capitalize on it so that it has a positive effect on your performance? If your answer is no, how do you remain uninfluenced in this connected world?
I don’t know about others but in my case, my friends do influence my behavior a lot. I am an introvert and it’s very difficult for me to make new friends but I consider myself very lucky to have four really good friends in my life. I have known them since we were in class three. All of them are really talented and hardworking. They inspire me to work hard. They are my pillars of support. They are really optimistic and they always encourage me to look at the brighter side of life. When my friends are around me, I feel really positive. We studied together for the exams, solving each other’s problems and doubts. Whenever any of us felt low, the rest of her cheered her up. I feel really happy to share that all of us have performed really well in the exams.

Achievers tend to complete difficult but important tasks first rather than delaying them. This helps them to devote adequate time and attention to their important tasks. Can you tell me some of your preferred prioritization techniques that help you make the most of your time?
To make the most of my time and to ensure that I don’t waste it, I prepare a timetable and maintain a to-do list. I plan my day in such a way that I have enough time for self-study. I feel that homework is very important. So, I always complete that first and then move on to my next task. I have learned that everything comes at a cost of something. Therefore I believe it’s very important to identify our priorities.

For students of this digital age, focusing and working on one thing has become the biggest obstacle. But your results show you know how to concentrate while studying, what are the main things students can do to concentrate better?
To be really honest, I love watching cricket and I end up wasting a lot of time just sitting in front the TV and later, I regret a lot. So while studying, I keep all the electronic gadgets away and totally cut myself from the world for those 2-3 hours but later I reward myself for achieving my goal. I believe that studying is important but taking regular breaks is even more important. It makes me feel energized and contented.

In this highly competitive world, exam stress and anxiety are inevitable. Any tips on how to combat them?
Exam stress and anxiety are indeed inevitable but we should not let that stress or pressure affect us or our performance. We should avoid comparing our abilities with that of our mates. Everybody has his/her own way of revising so we need to make sure that the method that we have chosen works best for us. Whenever I feel stressed, I talk to my parents or friends about it or I go out for a walk. This refreshes my mind and boosts my mood. The virtues of a good night’s sleep during exam season should not be underestimated. Many students stay awake all night just before the exam day which I feel is very wrong. It’s very important to sleep well to avoid any kind of stress or pressure on the exam day. Also one should eat healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables during exams. Lastly, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND STAY CALM.

Many students tend to sacrifice on their sleep and hobbies for exams. Did you do so? If yes, did it help? If not, what would you advise other students on the same?
Many students tend to sacrifice on their sleep and hobbies for exams but I didn’t. Sleeping well helps to avoid any kind of stress. Not having enough sleep can have a very negative effect on one’s body and mind. They say that the best food for brain is sleep. You need to allow yourself 7-8 hours of sleep every night. This helps you and your body to function well the next day.

What are the most important things that students should focus on while preparing for the boards?
First of all, students need to realize that boards are like any other exam that they appear for. They shouldn’t worry about the results. Rather, they should concentrate on the preparation. For boards, the students should start studying from the very beginning of the session and be consistent. One should never leave any topic for the end moment. Solving past question papers familiarizes students with the format of the paper which in turn, can help them to prepare a strategy on how to attempt the paper well.

Little things make a big difference. Can you share some simple study techniques and tips that you followed?
Everybody has his/her own way of studying but given below are some simple study techniques that helped me to prepare well for the board exams and might help other students as well :

+ Jot down the important points in the book itself so that you can go through them while revising.
+ Solve numerical problems while listening to music. It helps to increase concentration.
+ Practice more and more questions on a given concept once you have understood the topic well.
+ Try to explain important concepts to your parents, friends or anybody for that matter.it helps to memorize the topic well.

Priya Sarin
priya[at]thestudentsdigest.com

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