This story is from December 16, 2018

Social work hones Ivy League-bound students

Social work hones Ivy League-bound students
Sameeksha Soni with underprivileged children
JAIPUR: The trend of school students registering at NGOs, launching start-ups, authoring books and enrolling in short-term professional certificate courses, as part of preparation to crack the international scholarships, is fast becoming popular in Jaipur. Elite schools in the city now prepare their students right from class VIII, for a global fight to claim international scholarships in universities like Columbia, Massachusetts, Brown or Harvard.
Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya’s class XII-commerce student Sameekha Soni’s (17) experience of working in the social sector since last two years, has really helped her in applying for scholarships in the US, UK and varsities in Singapore.
As a budget and activity manager in JVB foundation, she carried out a warm clothes drive last winter, Christmas celebration for HIV+ children and free food distribution in city hospitals in Jaipur.
“The experience of reaching out to the last man standing has helped shape my detailed study plan in commerce stream and showcase my leadership skills. I was able to explain how fair economic polices can bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots in India, in my application form. My long-term goal is to become a part of the advocacy group pushing development agenda through international groups to ease the tension between the West and the East, developed and the developing nations,” said Soni, who also highlighted her start-up on editing content to showcase her communication skills.
Class XII-science student of Cambridge Court High School, Priyam Shukla has just submitted application forms at the premier US varsities. Shukla has been participating in competitions since he was in class III. He started preparing for the scholarships since class VIII. “I have participated in Model United Nations (MUN) competition 15 times and won three times; it will help build an impression of a person who is well-versed about national and international issues,” said Shukla, who proved his academic excellence by submitting the documents of winning several Olympiads and Cyber Contests in the country.
At the age of 16, working against child abuse has exposed Eesha Agarwal of Jayshree Periwal International School, to the grim realities of life. Inheriting the leadership of an NGO from her senior has given life goals to the class XII-science student, eyeing to study in the Ivy league. “Handling the sensitive issue at the age of 16 was not easy. It has shaken me to the core and I began to realize the impact I can create mobilizing those in power circles,” said Agarwal. The NGO works in the slum area near the school and attempts to bring the children, mostly drop outs, back to school.
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