Inspiring interviews with aspiring youth✨

ABHILIPSA MALLICK: A tenth-grader and a national level tennis player

Alright Abhilipsa, let's do this. So you are a fifteen-year old national level tennis player with countless awards to your name. How did you reach here? Tell us something more about your journey. My journey till now has obviously not been easy. I started playing tennis at the age of eight. My mother always had a dream of making me a tennis player, but for my first two years I only played tennis casually and barely went to classes. At the age of ten, when I finally started to get serious about it, I changed my academy and met my present coach. His belief in me and his guidance made it possible for me to put my earnest efforts towards this game and to reach upto the level that I am today.

Wow! So what inspired you to take up tennis and what motivates you everyday to continue doing it? I mean, it obviously wouldn't be easy, managing your studies and practice. You must be following a very strict schedule, right?

My family, my coach, and especially my mother are my biggest inspirations and my daily source of support. As for my motivation, I think my love for this beautiful sport is what motivates me to continue doing it every day. On top of that, discussions with my family and coach about playing grand slams and dreaming of holding the prestigious trophies keeps me motivated to work hard.

And yes, definitely, it is a very hectic schedule and difficult to manage with studies, but once you start loving the game and the efforts towards it then it is not a burden anymore. Like they say "Jab mehnat ko pyaar karne lag jao toh mehnat, mehnat nehi lagti."

(When you start loving the hard work, it doesn't seem like hard work) Sometimes, I have to compromise my studies for the sake of tennis but my teachers as well as my peers are always very understanding and supportive of me.

You sure are a hard-worker! What are your plans for the future Abhilipsa? Are you looking to make the country proud?

My future goal is to, obviously, like so many others, become the World No.1 in women's tennis. It's my dream to play for India and represent my country on a big stage.

Lastly, what is the most important lesson that tennis has taught you over the years? The most important lesson that tennis has taught me is to be disciplined, humble and a good human being at all times. I have also leaned how to manage myself in critical and challenging situations and do the best that I can.

M.C. MAITRAYEE: A tenth-grader and an exceptional NCC Cadet

Alright Maitrayee, let's do this. So you have been an NCC (National Cadet Corps) Cadet since the past two years, and that too, an exceptional one. Can you tell us something more about this experience?

Being an NCC Cadet is not just about a uniform or some valorous events, rather, its about learning a different kind of discipline which carves you in such a way that it helps you throughout your life. For me, NCC has always been something special as my dad too was once an NCC Cadet, so that's where I was inspired from to take it up. NCC is a very important part of our country and it means a great deal to me, so after two years I sure will be missing it deeply.

Wow, Maitrayee, that's certainly awe-inspiring. I gather you were one of the very few cadets who was selected for the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi. How did you feel when you first came to know about it?

So, there are actually fifteen selections for about 16,00,00 cadets from all over the country. I was selected for the first category, that is, the category which was going to be a part of the parade, and it consisted of a hundred and sixty-five cadets. So, the first challenge was to compete against other schools in our district. Along with me, many other students from our school were competitive enough to get ahead, however, I was the only one to make the cut. I was selected for representing Maharashtra as the Best Cadet but it was surely not an easy process! We were to have exemplary drill skills, rifle shooting skills, and general knowledge on current affairs and on the army.

That's certainly amazing. I know that you had to go through many camps, seven, if I am not wrong, to be chosen for the parade. So in that situation, how did you manage all your NCC responsibilities, school work, as well as your other extracurriculars?

Since it was around three months of camp that I had to attend, most of my extracurriculars had to be put on hold. I obviously lagged behind a lot on my school work but with the help of my supportive teachers as well as classmates, I got back on track soon enough. It certainly wasn't easy though, I can tell you that.

Well, you are a genius in making! Lastly, would you say that you are a different person now than you were two years ago?

For sure! I've definitely changed a lot. I think two years ago I was a very lazy person and was not at all committed to my extracurriculars. I've been learning Bharatnatyam since the past nine years but only after NCC did I realise the importance of extracurriculars and studies in one's life. It taught me how to balance my life and stay committed towards my hobbies and activities. I also realised while competing with different people from different backgrounds that while not all may have the privilege of having good educational facilities and qualifications behind them, they are equally talented in different fields and aspects...NCC taught me to respect that.

ANANYA PADWAL: A tenth-grader and a fellow writer

Alright Ananya, let's do this. So, let's talk about famous talent for writing. I heard that you have recently published an anthology, 'Silent Spirits Of The Secret Castle'. Can you tell us more about it?

Well, the 'Silent Spirits of the Secret Castle' is a compilation of many stories written by various budding authors. It focuses on the world of magic and enchantments that captivate the reader through its unique charm and power. This Anthology gave me a good experience of working with new authors while exchanging ideas and bringing their creativity together to give rise to an intriguing book. Just like it was beneficial for me, it also gave the co-authors a platform to showcase their talent, talk to many other authors, and work on their respective ideas.

Wow, I did not expect that! So, are these authors "famous" or are they too upcoming authors like you? And what inspired and motivated you to take this initiative of compiling an anthology?

These authors are upcoming authors who have published their own books and other anthologies and are willing to showcase them through various platforms. Answering the second question, compiling an Anthology taught me many things... keeping the remuneration aside, it taught me how to work together with people I've never known or met, to work on ideas that I never even thought about, and last but not least, it taught me how to take the co-authors and my team along with me as I grow.

That's quite impressive, honestly. So, what are your plans for the future? And do you want to pursue writing as a career?

Honestly speaking, I'd like to consider writing as a side profession. It's my passion and I'd do anything to accomplish the writing goals I've set for myself. However, I think that it won't make much of a difference even if I don't do it full-time. Speaking of my future plans, I want to graduate from Ivy League with an MBA degree. I'd like to go into business management and take the position of Chief Executive Officer in big high-tech companies like Google, Apple, or Microsoft.

Well, I didn't know I was in the presence of such an ambitious personality. So, have you planned any more books for the future?

My debut novel is getting published in March. It is a series of seven books. It is about a young girl who belongs to an enchanted world which entangles and runs parallel to the real world. She faces obstacles, hurdles and betrayals but still, she rises up as a strong young lady. Ending with a plot twist, the book is a must-read! Action, Adventure, Fantasy Fiction, Thriller, and Mystery would be some of the major genres the book fits into! This emotion of seeing my work in my hands can’t be expressed in mere words. This journey started three years ago when I did not even understand English much. The transition from simple, broken sentences to forming complex, rephrased and appealing sentences has a lot hidden within. Now, when I’m seeing this dream convert into reality, it’s totally a cloud-nine feeling!

AVNI SHARMA: A tenth-grader and a trained classical dancer

Alright Avni, let's do this. So tell me more about your talent, that is, Kathak. How long have you been practicing it and what motivates you to continue?

I have been doing Kathak since I was five years old when I was in the first grade. My motivation is my dance teacher; a wonderful woman who dances gracefully. Seeing her dance makes me say to myself, "Yes, I can do that too...not today, maybe not tomorrow, but surely someday!" And then there is my mother who keeps on motivating me to participate in different competitions which helps with my Kathak exposure a lot. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Aha, yes, a good teacher can show you the door, but it is you who needs to enter it. In first grade, what inspired you to take up Kathak and not any other dance form such as Bharatnatyam, for example?

At that time, and even today, I found Kathak a very elegant dance form out of all the classical dance in our country. It has different kinds of chakras (spinning) - sharp and strong, soft and delicate movements which makes it unique and stand out from all the other dances. Although, I strongly believe that each and every dance has its own specialty and uniqueness. Also, I was a very curious kid back in first grade. If I saw someone doing something that made me smile, I would do it too! And here I am, fast forward nine years later.

Well Avni, from what I gather, you in ninth grade are also very curious...not to mention, determined and hard-working. But now it's time for a reality check - next month, you will be promoted to the tenth standard. What are your plans for the future? Do you still intend on continuing Kathak?

Thank you! Yes, of course, I'm going to continue Kathak. Since I took a break recently due to my exams, I need to go back to attending classes twice a week and revise everything. The thing about classical dances is that they take years to perfect but only a month or two to forget. I even have my sixth-level exam coming up in April...there is a lot of syllabus to be covered, both practical and theory. So, I have no choice! *laughs*

TANUSH BHAT: A tenth-grader and a fellow poet

Alright Tanush, let's do this. So tell me more about this hidden talent of yours, that is, poetry. How long have you been writing poems and how many poems have you written to date?

Well, I initially started writing poems around the age of ten. Although they were not very well written, I really enjoyed writing them. In all honesty, I have lost count of how many poems I have written to date...there are just too many to keep track of.

Aha, an early start I see. Would you say you have a secret muse for all your poems or does inspiration strike you anywhere and anytime?

I honestly don't write poems in a very consistent or continuous format, there are obviously a lot of breaks in between. Whenever I feel lost and just want to dump my emotions somewhere, or whenever I feel like I can't properly convey my feelings in a mere conversation, I write a poem...and that's how I get inspired.

Looks like art and suffering do go hand-in-hand, after all. So, is poetry something that you might consider taking up as a future career or do you plan on keeping it as a hobby? Also, next month you will be going in the tenth grade…do you think you would be able to continue this passion of yours?

I will be continuing poetry as a hobby only. I don't think I'd take it up as a profession because writing poems gives me happiness and satisfaction, and I don't want to pollute the process. About tenth grade, as I said, I don't write in a consistent manner but I would definitely try to continue poetry even during tenth and after, mainly because to me, poetry is therapy.

Oh yes, after all, art is an amazing outlet for dumping your feelings. Last question, what is the weirdest/funniest poem you’ve written and what was your inspiration behind writing it? Also, do you mind sharing it with us?

I wish I could *laughs*. But, in all honesty, I have never written any weird poems because I like to look at things - everyday items - from a different perspective and find the sad truth hidden between them that only I can see and imagine.

To whoever who thinks that growing up means compromising your passion, these young students are perfect examples of why that is not the case. Most of us keep waiting our entire lives for inspiration to strike us, failing to notice that the inspiration is all around us, however, it's up to us to get inspired. From tennis players to soldiers to writers...today's youth not only inspire, but also aspire...they aspire to make a name for themselves in the world, they aspire to make their country proud, but most importantly, they aspire to work hard and work diligently towards their goal and are willing to give their all to achieve it. Of, course, it's never easy...but that doesn't mean it's never possible. It is most definitely possible, just wait and watch ;)