The Art of Man-making: ‘Dr Stya Paul has inspired me to always uphold my values’

Neil Vohra, a class IX student at Apeejay School, Pitampura has imbibed the famous quote by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – if you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun in your life. He firmly believes that we should learn how to build our identity in a crowd and oppose suppression so that all are given equal opportunities to exist in this world.

His dream is to build something great in the field of computers and become a man whom everyone will look up to. He feels there exists no alternative to values like truthfulness, humility, patience, honesty, and discipline. Hence, these are a few magical traits that will help him sail through this competitive world smoothly.

Excerpts from the interview 

How did you feel after receiving this award?

I was on cloud 9 when I received this award. Considering the fact that there were many tough competitors from class IX, there were five to six students, who were also deserving of this award. So when I received this award, it really meant a lot to me.

What is your driving force after receiving this award?

The award was conferred on me because I showcased my belief in human values. Hence, I need to uphold this belief to justify this award. Moreover, my personal beliefs and values that have shaped my personality are my driving force in life.

Which part really inspires you out of Dr Stya Paul’s life?

It was his perseverance and humility that really inspired me. There are teachers still in school who have worked under his aegis and often narrate beautiful stories about him to us. Dr Stya sir was always open to suggestions and he never showed the power of his superiority to anyone in life. He valued each and every suggestion equally and never neglected anyone. Sir has implemented every feedback so seriously and sincerely that they turned out to be real success stories today.

Define being human

It means to keep ourselves grounded but also aim to soar high. It also means that being ambitious is a great quality to have but at the same time, one should not turn haughty after achieving success, fame, and money. We should always display compassion and generosity for others

Share one mantra for successful co-existence.

We should all aim towards protecting our surroundings and the environment we all live in. Since we all share the same resources, we should not feel especially entitled to it.