Learning to choose in a world full of knowledge

For students growing up today, learning is no longer limited to classrooms, textbooks, or coaching centres. A curious mind can now move from a mathematics lecture to an AI tutorial, from a research paper to a coding video, all in the same afternoon. The challenge, therefore, is not access to knowledge but knowing what to do with it.

This is especially true for students interested in research, engineering, artificial intelligence, mathematics, or emerging technology-led fields. These areas demand more than marks. They require curiosity, patience, discipline, and the ability to stay with a problem even when the answer is not immediately visible.

According to Abhinandan Mohanty, an alumnus of Apeejay School, Kharghar, who is starting his PhD in AI at IIT-Delhi, “Today, knowledge is available almost everywhere. So, if a student is interested in research, Mathematics, AI, or any related field, I would advise them to explore as much as possible. They should browse the Internet, watch insightful YouTube channels, and look for things that genuinely interest them.”

For many young learners, this exploration is the first step towards clarity. A student may begin with a video, a problem, a book, or a simple question.

“A student should ask themselves whether, even on a challenging day, they would be able to get up and devote five or six hours to their work. Developing that kind of discipline is crucial,” he opined.

That sense of discipline often separates passing curiosity from serious commitment. In fields such as research and AI, progress is rarely instant. It comes through repeated effort, mistakes, correction, and the willingness to keep returning to the work.

For students, the takeaway is clear: exploration is only the beginning. “What shapes a future path is the ability to recognise a genuine interest, build strong fundamentals, and keep working at it with consistency,” he said in conclusion.