The next story in the Students’ Corner series of EducationWorld features Gunika Talwar, a class XII (Commerce) student and head girl of Gems Cambridge International School, Hoshiarpur (Punjab), to understand how she is pursuing her studies and council responsibilities simultaneously, her take on social media, NEP 2020, how the role of the head girl has given her the opportunity to develop her public speaking and leadership skills, her interests and so on.
With a keen interest in Corporate Law, Gunika aspires to enroll at a reputed university/college, building a strong base through internships and then pursue a career in Corporate Law. Her hobbies include debating, public speaking, dancing, and reading.
The students council representative is a coveted position. How do you carry out your responsibilities and studies simultaneously?
Indeed, being a part of student council comes with a lot of responsibilities but all of it is worth it. Balancing student council responsibilities and studies require effective time management. The key to a healthy schedule is learning to prioritise your tasks then moving on to creating a schedule and set realistic goals to ensure both areas received adequate attention. Communication with fellow council members and teachers can help you a lot to manage expectations and work load and it really did for me.
Mention the challenges that come alongside this role.
There are various challenges I personally faced during this journey of mine, such as:
- Time Management: Juggling responsibilities like leading, meeting with council members, organising events and fulfilling academic obligations can be demanding. But with precise planning of events, delegating responsibilities to the right individuals and managing time, I could manage it very satisfactorily.
- Balancing Authority and Approachability: Striking the right balance between being a leader and monitoring approachability to connect with your peers and juniors can be challenging at times but you ought to connect with them, “because you are their ‘VOICE’”- one that they have chosen.
- Conflict Resolution: Addressing conflicts among students or within the council requires diplomacy and effective problem-solving skills and I could manage this very effectively too with the help of my team.
Fulfilling the responsibilities of a head boy/head girl has its pros and cons. Friends have their umpteen demands on you. How do you maintain the same? How do you deal with your friends?
Meeting expectations of both my peers and faculty members can be stressful as everyone has different needs and perspectives. I was lucky that I had team which saw the smooth going of all events, meeting almost all expectations with elan.
The head girl/boy is often looked upto as a role model, which means maintaining high standards of behavior and ethics. I had to really work hard to ensure that but, in the process, I evolved as a much disciplined leader as well.
Another often faced challenge is handling the pressure during events, etc. but I believe in “In the dance of life, challenges are the rythms that transforms ordinary steps into extraordinary leaps”. That is what keeps me going.
How many hours do you spend on social media? If yes, how does it help you in life or how does it distract you in life? (Whichever is applicable for you)
I spend about four hours daily on social media. As they say everything has its own pros and cons and its the same with social media. For me, personally, it is not distracting; anything becomes distracting, only if we are not mindful of its use. And this is the era of Technology. Technology provides you access to various resources which are required for our knowledge.
Have you understood the takeaways of the National Education Policy 2020?
Certainly, The National Education Policy 2020 emphasises holistic development, flexibility and skill enhancement. As a head girl, empowering these can guide you in fostering a well-rounded educational environment, encouraging creativity and promoting industry among students.
Do you think the role of the head boy/head girl helps you develop your soft skills and makes you industry-ready? Or is this very much related to school activities only, and the industry is way different? Your views…
Yes, being a head girl can be a valuable experience for developing soft skills. Leadership, confidence, communication, and organization skills are often cultured in such roles, it gives you ability to navigate through various challenges like you know how to handle pressure, you are confident enough. These can indeed at you apart in the professional landscape and make a positive impact on your adaptability across different industries.
