They are young and on the go. They are willing to go that extra mile so that they can have an edge over their peers and stand out in the crowd. Students today focus on more than just academic success. They recognise the value of gaining an early advantage in life to accelerate their climb up the ladder of success.
Meet one such student – Atharv Rege, a student of class VII at Apeejay School, Nerul who was not only conferred with the Silver medal and a certificate for the Dr Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Spardha competition, he was also awarded a Silver medal at the Junior Math Olympiad.
The young achiever, in a candid interview, talks about how he loves solving Math problems among other things.
How excited were you when you found out you were receiving a medal?
I was aware that after qualifying for two rounds, I would receive a medal. However, the specific type — silver, gold, or bronze — depended on the project I created and my performance in the interview. So, I didn’t know it would be a silver medal until later.
Tell us a little about yourself. What are your interests and hobbies?
I have recently been promoted to class VII and my hobbies include chess, robotics, programming, and solving tough Math problems.
How did you become interested in taking this exam?
Though I had heard about this prestigious competition (everyone in Mumbai does) it was my school and the teachers who encouraged all students to participate in competitive exams because it helps in the future and strengthens our foundations. When I told my parents about the exam. They too motivated me and supported me to take the exam.
What kind of preparation did you do for this exam, and what challenges did you face?
This competition involves four stages. This means that one has to be on one’s toes throughout the year. For the first level, which includes 100 MCQs on general science knowledge, I prepared using various books recommended by the state board and higher standard NCERT books, and some books that are recommended for the students who take the Dr Homi Bhabha Balvaidnyanik Spardha exam. One of the challenges was managing extensive preparations alongside school responsibilities.
Did you study throughout the year or just before the exam stages?
I studied throughout the year. Each round required different preparation approaches, especially the third round, where I had to develop an action research project that involved fieldwork and surveys.
What kind of support and guidance did you receive from your teachers?
My teachers, including my class teacher and the academy coordinator, provided invaluable support. After qualifying for the theory round, a special workshop was organised where experienced faculty taught us how to perform practicals and accurately record observations.
Your project was on herbal cosmetics. Why did you choose this topic?
The topic “fashion and environment” was assigned by the Mumbai Science Teachers’ Association, which hosted the exam. I chose herbal cosmetics because chemical cosmetics have various adverse effects on environmental health. It all began by selecting a sub-topic within the broad theme. After deciding on herbal cosmetics, I consulted family members and interviewed specialists like dermatologists, Ayurvedic specialists, and a cosmetics factory manager to gain insights into the field. I ended up making herbal bath powder.
How did you make herbal bath powder at home?
I used various plant-based ingredients like neem, sandalwood powder, and gram flour, mixing them in proper proportions to create the bath powder.
You also got a Silver at the Junior Math Olympiad (JMO). Tell us about that.
As I mentioned earlier, I love Math. If I am unable to solve a problem I spend hours trying to figure out the reason. I love numbers; they intrigue me. So when the chance to take the exam came up, I signed up for it. The best part is that this exam gives marks for the steps rather than the answer since there is a possibility that the student may have made a calculation error.
I was a bit apprehensive about taking this exam because since my school finals, the project submission for Dr Homi Baba, and JMO were all culminating around the same time. However, my parents motivated me and told me that it is the effort that counts and not the marks I would get. As luck would have it, I got a Silver
How did you manage all three?
It was challenging, especially since the project deadline, JMO, and school exams were close together. Therefore, I created a detailed timetable, allocating specific hours for schoolwork and project work, which helped me manage all three effectively and excel in my school exams with a 98 per cent score.
