Undergraduate / "I could have been the member of the same lot..." Personal Essay [6]

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful

"I could have been the member of the same lot............."
"They are not educated and are unaware of their right, still I can teach them"-I told myself. The blunt answer which they gave in return was -"I cannot leave it, this is my life .Do you want me to perish?" These lines struck me when I asked some of my village mates to give up the chewing of supari and the addiction which trapped their life. I could have been the member of same lot.

The people in my village are full of stereotypes, myths and, old and unreasonable traditions. I have seen an Oldman of about 80 years calling me 'Malik' (The Lord) because I belonged to an upper caste. People are divided into castes and if a lower caste people touch an upper caste member, they are prone to be punished or the upper caste member has to bath before entering into his house. This untouchability is not encouraged while sharing of wine and supari (Gutkha).The situation is so pathetic that a child of 10 years steals money from the house to buy cigarettes and supari. Even my friends are victims of this addiction. While I am there in the village, I ask them to leave that habit and try to convince how it can be fatal for their health. The blunt answer they give me is that they can't leave that or else they will not be able to survive. This really stroke my heart. They are not educated and are unaware of their rights. They are always exploited as corruption has its hold in my village too. Any government scheme hardly reach them even if it is meant for them, and the PDS (Public Distribution System) is the best way to betray the poor and vulnerable souls. No one can raise their voice because many of them are unaware and those who are aware do not dare.

I do not have a very encouraging background .I belong to a very rural and underdeveloped place in India. My father is the only earning member in my family and my mother is a house wife. My father is a farmer who works day in day out to support our (mine and my younger brother's) education. My village very far in development and education from the rest of the world. I would have been the member of same lot in my village, if Vidyagyan would not have been there in my life. My all realizations changed and unlike my friends I have dreams to achieve .I always think of them and realize the difference between them and me.

Cracking the entrance exam of Vidyagyan Leadership Academy changed me entirely. I was raised up like a lotus which grows up despite the murkiness of its surroundings. My talent and my skills were sharpened by my teachers in the robust environment of the school. Teachers looked at my holistic development and turned from an innocent soul of 10 years to a well-developed and aware cosmopolitan personality of 16.Vidyagyan gave me an opportunity to compete with the world and helped me to make all my challenges into my strengths. I have never dreamt of speaking in English but my teachers incited me to learn it and then I worked hard, learnt words, practiced in front of the mirror and made my biggest weakness a real strength. An individual's strength is never identified till it has been put to test so, was my inapt capacity of mathematical calculations untapped till I garnered the courage to solve a question on Compound interest put forth by the teacher to a class of 30 and applauded by my teacher for my quick calculating capacity and application of the concept. Solving the problem from the podium of the teacher gave me an immense boost and I realized if I can do it here , I can well pursue it ahead. I went on to further strengthen my area of interest by participating in math's quiz, exhibitions and was instrumental in giving certain ideas in the development of the Math Park of the school.It was a delight to see my ideas on fractions being transformed to travelling steps. My interest has propelled me to take up Research on Geometrical Representation of Complex Numbers.

Vidyagyan developed a leader inside me who aspire to change the scenario of his roots. My focus has always been those hopes who consider me the one who can bring the change in the village. I want to go back to the village and want to become a person whom the people can vie with. Without achieving something it is very difficult to convince the village people that what education can do to them-can end smoking, drinking, and untouchability. I aspire to change the worse scenario of the village to the best environment where no child steals but is lured to go to schools because I think the 'Education for all is the cure of all evils on this Earth'.

Undergraduate / I want to pursue Mathematics. The reasons for my inclination are many more than what I can express.. [3]

I want to pursue Mathematics. The reasons for my interest and inclination are many more than what I can express with the help of my words.

Math had been my love since childhood, I had always enjoyed solving problems and thinking and challenging every question. Fire for Math is burning inside me. And, my preference to always select Math first when I prepare my schedule or study plan instructs that I am following the subject.

Math is a reason for where I stand among my friends and society. And, now I want to make Math, the reason of my life.

Another reason for my fondness is that I am apt at the concepts what I had faced. And, when some of my friends come and see me that I can explain them any concept or question, gives me pleasure ,that Yes I have something .Einstein said that "If you have not understood it well, you can't explain it to others simply." So, this thought makes me to think and judge my knowledge and my command at the subject.

My real life experiences in my society also make math a compulsion .And, I think the reason of my faith in the subject is that it always allows me to show my presence everywhere. Rather, it be counting lie when someone asks this (some number) plus that (other number) is -then my voice is always audible to them. This makes me feel that 'Yes' I had helped someone. My pleasure and the essence of my life evokes from Math. So, it had always been my choice and will be forever in my life.

Undergraduate / Challenging English - Learning this language became my goal [9]

Discuss any obstacles and/or hardships you have encountered and how you dealt with them.

English-My Challenge

Till my fifth grade, I was the part of Hindi curriculum. But, after cracking Vidyagyan Entrance test I had to suddenly give up the language which I spoke, understood, and wrote. English alphabets, 5 names of the birds and fruits and colors etc. were enough for me .But when I was given the chance to learn English, I took this as an opportunity to explore something new in my life. I have seen tourists in Orchha (a tourist place in Madhya Pradesh, India) murmuring words which created interest in me but were incomprehensible.

Then, I thought that learning English will provide me a chance to interact with them and comprehend their language. Although, I didn't know the language but my ability to face the challenge allowed me to try my hands. I practised murmuring and copying the accent, which I heard from foreigners or TV or radio. I learnt new words from books, dictionaries and 'Word of the Day' subscription, gradually it turned into my one of the hobbies.

Learning English became my goal. So, I took up English Communication and Drama hobby in my school and soon became the celebrated figure with my different accents. I enjoyed murmuring, so many a times I heard people criticizing me. And when I tried conversing in English with my friends .then facing the comments of my friends was a big deal. But, learning English was my ultimate aim .So, I anyhow tried and ignored them. I read newspapers, participated in different competitions like debate, poem recitation and most importantly Drama. I always tried to talk in English with my friends and teachers instead of every hardship.

My confidence got immense boost when I guided some foreigners, and great personalities like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Baichung Bhutia, Akhilesh Yadav. I even escorted foreign intern students. So talking to them and comprehending their accent was my great success. Then, I thought Oh! 'Yes' I have transformed a weakness into my real strength.

Letters / 'A great future awaits him' - This is a Letter of recommendation from a Math teacher [4]

Letter of Recommendation

I have been teaching Amrish for last 3 years. He has been one of the most impressive and admired students of my Math class. His ability to understand numbers and the approach he takes to solve a problem is really different. He is the one who always want to learn. His questioning ability and the aptitude to go into the depth of the subject is truly inspiring for his friends. I had known Amrish from the first day I entered into his class because of his lively and exuberant behaviour in the class. So, I truly recommend him for admission to your college.

Amrish is not only the well-known student of the class but also of the school premises. He has a good ability to lead and hence never hesitates to come out of the crowd and represent the student group. From leading the class discussions and debates, he had learnt a lot. He had also led the student council, dramatics club and Vedic Math club. He always come up to take the opportunity and is always a step ahead among his peers to help others. He had always tried to grow him beyond his years. He is a critical problem thinker which is transparent in his ideas and the approach he takes towards complex problems.

He is certainly an extra-ordinary child because he is never satiated with what he had learnt in the class rather he wants to explore on everything which steps into his life.

I had been his Math's teacher, class teacher, mentor and foster parent. So I know him very personally. Having him under me was always a pleasure and whenever it was asked in the school to take one child for guidance. He was my first preference. His attitude and respect towards his mates, juniors and teachers is surely praiseworthy.

He is a good humoured, energetic and jovial student. I have seen him explaining concepts to his classmates, his juniors any person who reaches him. I love this quality also he never hesitates to explain the things and he is always the first to raise his hand in the class be it any class but math class for sure. Amrish never fears to take chalk and explain and explain the concepts in the class. His confidence really makes me proud that I have such student to teach. I still remember the moment when he came to me and asked that sir I will be enacting you on teachers' Day. And when I was asked to judge his style and the way of teaching. It was marvellous and clear.

He is a creative out of the box thinker and always ready to seek me for extra things in each topic. He is very ambitious and want to touch the heights of success. I am sure that his determination, smart learning and diligence will fetch everything he dreams of. I wish him all the success in his undergrad studies and recommend highly for admissions to your esteemed college. A great future awaits him and the best support given to him can bring out the best in him but that is only possible when he has a helping hand, which can be provided by you.