The Art of Man-making: ‘Your reward for kindness lies with God, not with any person’

She never wants to settle for the less or ordinary. She aims to never fit in with the regular. Meet Riya Vohra of class IX at Apeejay Svran Global School, Faridabad. In an interview, Riya gets candid about how a positive attitude solves every problem in life. 

Read edited excerpts here.  

How did you feel after receiving the prestigious Dr Stya Paul award?

I am truly grateful to receive the prestigious Stya Paul award. I believe that this award is not just for me, but for everyone who has been a part of this journey. Receiving this award reminds me of hard work, perseverance and passion, and it never goes unnoticed.

What are the core values you believe are relevant in today’s time?

From my perspective, the core values which are relevant in today’s time are Gratitude and Integrity because gratitude helps people to stay humble and down to earth while Integrity builds a strong bond. It’s great to be educated, but a humble heart is a definition of a good person. “Knowledge without humanity is like a sharp knife in the hands of a child”- Mahatma Gandhi.

How well do you resonate with the motto: Soaring High is My Nature?

The meaning of this motto has a vast meaning. This motto tells us that we all should be like birds who should fly high in the sky against the strong wind. The path of success will not be easy, you will face changes and failure, but you shouldn’t stop there, flying high is in our nature, we don’t let these challenges define us – we rise above them

What is your philosophy to lead a good life?

 Life is a beautiful journey with a beginning and an ending. No matter how we plan, the cycle of life is beyond our control. Balance, compassion and wisdom are the true wealth of life. To lead a good life, you should balance work and rest, while compassion builds strong relations, and wisdom will lead to a peaceful and steady life

What is your driving force after receiving this award?

I am deeply grateful for this honor and it encourages me to work even harder, stay dedicated and make an even greater impact. Thank you for believing in me. My motivation after receiving this award is higher than ever.

What are the basic human values people lack? How to work on them?

People may lack different human values depending on their environment, but I think that people lack respect. People should treat everyone with dignity regardless of their social background, none should be outcasted. Respect is not given based on status or wealth, but on the dignity every human being deserves. To make people work on these values, we should spread social awareness, use media positively.