L Gokulnath – AIR 3

L Gokulnath, a student of Somerville School, Noida secured AIR 3 in the CBSE Class 10th board exams. He expresses his gratitude to his school and teachers as they have not only helped him to excel in academics but also took care of his all-round development and made him a disciplined student. He scored 99.40% in the boards exams with a perfect 100 in Mathematics, Social Science and Sanskrit, 99 in Science and 98 in English. He also scored 100 in Foundation of IT (FIT). His hobbies include playing indoor games and watching sports on TV. He has taken Science stream and wants to pursue engineering. Recently, L Gokulnath bagged the 1st position and became the All India Topper by scoring 186 marks out of 197 in the National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) 2018. In this interview with Priya Sarin, this bright young lad is here to help you learn some simple and practical study tips that will help you excel in your exams.

School teachers and parents play a pivotal role in every child’s success. What role did they play in your success?
>>    Undoubtedly, both the school and the school teachers played a vital role in my success. They played a major role in bringing out my best and made me believe in myself. So I was able to achieve. My parents always advised me to give my best and not to take any stress. They have always been very supportive and they kept motivating me.

What is your favourite subject? And why do you like it?
>>    My favourite subject is Mathematics as I love solving Maths problems.

Can you share a few study techniques and tips that you followed?
>>    I am focused, committed and more importantly I thoroughly enjoy my studies.

Different students have different learning styles. What is your style of preparation and note making?
>>    I follow the same pattern of studying as most of the students follow. I try to complete my schedule on a daily basis.

Did you practise any ‘mock tests’? Do you think they’re necessary for excelling in exams?
>>    Yes. It helps me to improve the accuracy in answering the questions and also to improve my speed and to know the time factor in completing all the questions within the time limit. 

Albert Einstein famously said that his curiosity is his real talent. As kids, humans are naturally curious and that is how we pick up skills like walking and talking. But sadly as we grow old, we lose this skill. But an all-rounder like you can surely share some tips on how to remain curious and keep learning new things?
>>    We need to have that hunger within us to learn new things every day. Once we have it then there is no stopping as there is no end to learning new things in our life.

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?
>>    I remain fully attentive during my class periods and make sure that my attention does not get distracted at any point in time.

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?
>>    Mostly, I eat home-cooked food and my mother takes care of my snacks very well.

As a thinking being, all of us suffer from emotional clutter. And while the physical clutter is easier to get rid of, dealing with emotional clutter can be challenging. Any tips for the same?
>>    Keep telling yourself that you are not going to get carried away by emotional clutter and you have to achieve your goal, come what may. To remain positive is very important, and this is what I always try to do under these circumstances.

A little stress is a good motivator and acts as a driving force, but a lot of stress is harmful and hampers our performance. How do you ensure that stress does not negatively affect you?
>>    Whenever I feel very stressed, I take a small break and play some indoor games or watch sports on TV.

What was the main driving force behind your success? What kept you motivated and confident throughout the year?
>>    I want to top all the exams that I participate in. This keeps me motivated and confident throughout the year.

Most students forget what they have studied in just a few days. Any tips for improving the memory and ensuring better retain and recall?
>>    Studying daily is the only way. Studying just for a few days will never help us to achieve the top position.

~  Priya Sarin
priya[at]thestudentsdigest.com

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