‘Want to clear IAS to serve people,’ says this Dr Stya Paul Award recipient

A BTech student at Apeejay Institute of Management and Engineering Technical Campus (AIMETC), Akansha Tyagi strongly believes in serving society. And what better way to do it than by imparting education? While managing her studies and familial responsibilities, this semester V student also teaches underprivileged children for free. In an interview, Akansha, who is pursuing Computer Science with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, tells us about how she won the Dr Stya Paul Award for Human Values, future goals, and more.

Excerpts:

Congratulations on winning the award! How do you feel?

I feel honoured to have won this award. I have been actively involved in the social welfare clubs at college. As a result, my name was recommended by my teachers for the award.

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What are some of the values that shape your personality?

Kindness and compassion are the sole values that drive me. I believe in helping those in need. Coming from a humble background myself, I try my best to provide people with bare necessities; having faced financial difficulties in my own family, I can relate to the challenges of the underprivileged. I realised the best way to help would be by giving them education. So, I teach neighbourhood children — who are unable to afford— free of cost.

I also believe in complete honesty. I never hide anything from my parents. I am very attached to my father and share everything with him.

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt about coping with challenges?

I have learnt about resilience and working hard to achieve a goal. Even when the circumstances are not in your favour, you must be courageous and try to give your best. Your efforts will pay off someday.

I am also a spiritual person, so I believe in God’s miracles. It gives me the strength to overcome any challenge that comes my way.

How do your family members support each other?

My father is like a friend and guide to me. My mother is also very supportive. I have two younger sisters and being the elder one, I try to instill good values and positivity in them. I try to motivate them to study well and take an active interest in co-curricular activities. I am like a second mother to them. After I graduate, my aim is to get a job and support my father financially. My long-term goal is to take the UPSC exam.

Have you already started preparing for civil services? What inspired you?

Although I will enroll for UPSC coaching after graduation. I will ideally want to pursue it alongside a job so that I can support my family. I was in class V or VI when I first came across an interview with an IAS officer on TV. I have been deeply inspired by their lives and their service to the nation. I would also like to do the same.