Student Leader Interview – Arjun from PGDAV College

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1. Tell us more about your role and responsibilities at college.

I am the Coordinator of the Debating Society, a.k.a. Grey Matter, in my college. I was honoured to be chosen as the person who would go ahead and shape the minds of the various students coming into the debating arena.

Ever since I joined college and became a part of this society I knew that I belonged , I had to rise through the ranks and become someone who could act as a leader and a role model for the students under me.

My prime responsibility will always remain to be the constant development of the capabilities of my students and them unlocking their true potential.

2. What's it like to juggle between a leadership role and a normal college life?

Who doesn't want to have a normal college life, with the bunking of classes ,roaming freely through the city and enjoying time with friends. But certain impositions do come with bearing an authoritative role.

When you rise to a certain position, people place a lot of expectations and faith in you and believe that you will always deliver on a promise.

But I was always ready to sacrifice something to gain what I have today. 

There are days that even 24 hours seem less, but you have to work with what you're given. I mayor miss out on certain academic aspects of college life, but I make  for it whenever I have the free time

3.Do you enjoy holding the kind of influence you hold at such a young age?

This kind of influence is unequivocally intoxicating. It is completely understandable to develop a level of arrogance in a dynamic field such as debating. Rising to such an influential position at such a young age is extremely dicey,  as you may have an individual who may push his/her own ideologies onto the larger public, someone who looks up to you as a mentor or a teacher.

It does seem daunting, but I use this position strictly in a productive manner. I specifically act as a teacher or in some cases a mentor and help my students to overcome their problems.

4. Do you have a message for parents to allow their kids to do things besides academics?

Academics have remained to be a vital part of a student's life for as long as I can remember. But the current environment does not require a student to only be proficient academically. With the dynamic flow of society we have experienced an influx of co-curricular activities that not only develop the creative aspect of a child but also their personality and their goals in life. It may not be necessary that a child establish his future through only the set professions in our country by becoming either a doctor or an engineer. 

Students can do so much more for themselves by exploring all that exists in this world and not be held back by society. In today's world a child can be whatever he/she wishes to be, be it an entrepreneur or a singer or even a dancer. This won't only help a student find themselves and where they belong but may also decide their future for themselves. 

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

5. What did you do in your current role that makes you feel proud of yourself?

Over the year I have come to connect with all of my students in my society and that makes me feel to be a part of their achievements or failures. 

I am not only proud of my own achievements that helped me clear a way to become Coordinator, but I also take pride in the wins of my society members. 

Furthermore, I am prouder of the fact that my society members have learned to take failure in their stride; because failure is not a cause for dejection or regret, but rather a stepping stone towards brighter futures. That even if everything might happen for a reason, the longer you have to wait, the sweeter the win.

6. What's your message to encourage students to do internships and attend conferences?

As a fellow student, we are of the age where have to buckle down and struggle. It is what we do in this time that may come to define our lives. 

These internships not only go ahead to be attached to your CV but become a defining moment to determine your practical application of your academic or co-curricular knowledge. Conferences also help you meet seasoned individuals who not only help you develop as a person but also provide you with an environment to interact and converse with people of similar and contrasting backgrounds.

So why not work hard everyday rather than think when you're on your deathbed filled with regret, only to say, "Oh I wish I would have worked harder, I could have been in a better place today!"