Aakanksha Rai – AIR 2

Aakanksha Rai, a student of GEMS Modern Academy scored 99.25 percent and became the global second in the ISC (Class XII) board examinations. This young achiever scored a perfect 100 in four subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science), and 97 in English. She is a hard-working and dedicated student who, when determined to do something, leaves no stone unturned to meet her goals. She is open-minded, enthusiastic and enjoys trying new things such as new foods, new activities, adventure sports, travelling to new countries and meeting new people. This quality has made her a well-rounded person. Her achievements are many and varied. A consistent topper since grade 8, she has received distinction in Trinity College London’s Communication Exams. She also participated in school choir and has won many medals for her school as a member of the school swimming team. What’s more! This little girl was the team leader for school treks to the Himalayas.

Aakanksha Rai, GEMS Modern Academy

Giving back to the world is important to her. She has passionately volunteered for several beach clean-ups, Ramadan charities and city clean-up drives organized under patronage of Dubai Municipality. She has spread awareness in her community about the ill effects of cigarette butts on marine life and was the brand ambassador for her school for UN’s SDG14 – Life under Water. She has been mentoring her peers in Science and Computers since grade 8 and started mentoring children with Special Education Needs last year. She has mentored a primary student with a development delay that affects her learning and a student who has severe Autism with motor coordination impairment. This enriching experience has furthered her resolve to research on machine learning and Artificial Intelligence and create solutions to help children with autism develop their social skills.

This multi-talented girl credits her school for making her a good student and a great human being. Her school holds a special place in her heart, and she would like to pay a tribute to her school and her teachers by sharing a few words about her school.

“I was blessed to have studied at Gems Modern Academy, Dubai. It offers ICSE/ISCE curriculum as well as IB. Our school has always emphasized the importance of balancing academics and co-curricular activities. We were exposed to diverse experiences through sports, drama, musicals, debate competitions, international tours, trek experiences etc. By exploring the world, we got an opportunity to gain intellectually as well as become better global citizens who are socially, culturally, economically and environmentally aware.”

In this interview with Priya Sarin, this talented young winner will show you the way to success and share her journey and wisdom with you all.

School is the basic foundation on which the pillars of a student’s success are built. How did your teachers and parents help you in your preparation for the board exams?

>>    I am blessed to have had great teachers throughout my school life. They not only ensured that we understood our concepts well, but also made classroom studies fun and interactive. Because of this, my base has always been strong. The grades I received in my ISC board exams would have not been possible without the support and guidance of my teachers. They have shaped me to become the person I am today.

My parents’ support has been priceless. They always encouraged me to take part in various co-curricular activities like swimming, playing guitar and communication. This enabled me to have a well-rounded personality. It is always helpful to know that your family is there for you no matter what because it helps keep stress at bay.

What is your favourite subject? And why do you like it?

>>    My favourite subject in high school was English Literature and all the credit goes to my teacher Mr. Sheldon who made the subject super interesting.

Can you share a few study techniques and tips that you followed?

>>   There is no secret to success and one must mix hard work with smart work. For me what worked best was planning my study schedule and including frequent breaks between the study hours. After every hour of study, I would take a 15-minute break – playing guitar or listening to music during that time. I would also include an hour of exercise every day.

For study technique, writing things down helps memorize things you feel like you just cannot remember. For example, I had a tough time memorizing the structures of polymers. My teacher, Mrs. Anjana Ninan suggested I practice by writing. It worked like a charm!

Different students have different learning styles. What is yours? How do you ensure that you study efficiently and effectively?

>>    I study each subject in a different way. I would study English lit by acting out the stories in my room or reciting the poems as though I were reciting it in front of an audience. For chemistry, I wrote all equations multiple times. For physics, I made lists of the derivations and formulae. Maths and computer science were just practice, practice and more practice. I never needed to put an extra effort because I always paid attention in class while my teachers were teaching. I ensured that all my concepts were clear and did not hesitate in taking the teacher’s help for the same. This way I never needed to mug up things. I have always been punctual in submitting my assignments and completing my homework, which worked as continuous revision.

Most students forget what they have studied in just a few days. Any tips for improving the memory and ensuring better retain and recall?

>>   Each person’s mind works differently. For me, once I understood the concept, I would never forget it. I may forget specific formulae or facts, but since I knew the concept, it would not be hard to revise the forgotten thing quickly. It is very important to make sure you understand what is being taught from day one! Then revisiting the topic every month helps retain what you have learnt. Another thing that helped was writing down the things I had trouble remembering.

Many students find it hard to balance academics and co-curricular activities. And hence, they tend to sacrifice one for the sake of another. But an all-rounder like you can surely share some tips on how to keep a balance in life and keep learning new things?

>>   You have to make sure you actually enjoy the co-curricular activities you are participating in and that you are not just doing them for the sake of participation or due to peer pressure. When you enjoy them, they serve as your breaks between studying.

I’ve always enjoyed swimming and was a part of my school’s swimming team. It not only served as a good exercise, but also helped me make friends for life. I also enjoy music and play the guitar. Playing the guitar is my greatest stress buster. It is very important to have a healthy mix of studies and CCAs. This does not make studying mundane and keeps one motivated to be working hard.

Paying attention in classroom is one of the most important things a student can do to excel in exams. How do you take active part in your learning process and make the most of your teachers’ teachings?

>>   This has been the mantra of my school life – Pay attention in class, clear all doubts and complete the homework on time. I cannot emphasize enough on the importance of ensuring that all concepts are well understood. This reduces a lot of time spent at home in understanding the topics again and you can straightway start revising and practicing numericals etc.

Snacking while studying is unavoidable. What are your favourite snacks to eat while studying that are healthy and satiate your hunger without making you feel lethargic?

>>   I don’t think I am the best person to be giving advice on healthy eating! I snacked on whatever I was craving – be it chips or chocolate. However, to make up for it, I also exercised every day, even during boards! I was sure to take 10,000+ steps every day!

There is an increase in the levels of stress and anxiety among teenagers. Any tips for dealing with negative emotions and ensuring that they don’t come in the way of your success march?

>>   Most of my stress came from not wanting to disappoint my parents. However, they were also my pillars of support. My biggest tip for students is to always talk about your feelings with your dear ones. Getting it out of your system and knowing that your family and friends will support you no matter what is the greatest stress buster there can be. Another thing that helps is working hard and knowing that you studied the best you can and doing past years’ papers and seeing that you are being able to solve them with ease will give you the confidence that is required to succeed.

Some students focus on short-term goals and some focus on long-term goals. But achievers usually have their short-term goals aligned with their long-term goals. Any tips for other students on the same?

>>   You will never give anything your 100% if you don’t know why you are doing it. I realized that programming came naturally to me in Grade 7 when I learned Visual Basic. I enjoyed writing codes for each assignment my teacher gave, especially those that made me think hard. My resolve to pursue an education in Computer Science strengthened while I was mentoring two children with Special Education Needs. I realized that Machine Learning and AI could help create solutions that could benefit such kids and their caretakers.

Studying at NUS became my ambition. I recognized that I would require extraordinary scores to be admitted at the university. I therefore worked diligently and achieved the second rank globally in the ISC examinations.

My tip for other students is that when you’re doing something, ask yourself why and keep the reason in mind every time you get ‘too lazy’ to do something. Print out your goal and put it in a place where you can see it always – it definitely helps to keep one motivated.

~ Priya Sarin
priya[at]thestudentsdigest.com

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