Interview with Anusha Ghildyal

 Interview with Anusha Ghildyal

     

I chose to interview Anusha Ghildyal who has come to tell us about her schooling experience. As a high schooler, she is nearing the end of her schooling journey, so she’s experienced much throughout her education. Here are the highlights of the interview.

Interviewer(Aryan): Hi Anusha! Welcome to the interview for the FCL Magazine! The purpose of this interview is to get your input on your schooling experience so far, what you think about various matters, and overall how you feel about your experience. Let us begin. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, including your background and the schools you have attended?

Interviewee (Anusha): My family consists of my father, mother, 13-year-old sister, and myself. My dad went to Madras Institute of Technology and Delhi University (physics/engineering) grew up in Delhi, India. My mom went to college in Aurangabad (engineering) grew up in Chandigarh, India. The schools I attended were Westpark Elementary School, South Lake Middle School, and Woodbridge High School.

Aryan: Now that you are in 12th grade, as you look back, what do you think (give me three ways) in which your school helped you become the person you are. 

Anusha: In school, I learned how to make friends, and that everyone is special and has their unique talents/skills. School allows you to learn and discover who you are and what your strengths/passions are. 

Aryan: We encounter teachers on a daily basis, and they teach us valuable subjects such as Math, English, etc. However, there is more to life than just academics. What is the role of teachers apart from teaching academics? Did any teacher have a big influence on your school life? 

Anusha: I believe that without my teachers, I would not be able to succeed in life. They set the tone for the rest of our life and our outlook on life. We form special connections and relationships with every teacher we have. The future development of a nation is in the hand of a teacher, thus they have a vital role in the world!

Aryan: Anusha, a school offers one much more than just academics, like socialization, and making friends is a key thing in any student's life. With friends comes friendship , the trust and bonding, sharing and caring, etc. What is the importance of having friends in school?

Anusha: I have a very diverse friend group that I have built and developed throughout my school life. Some come and go and that’s okay! Having friendships impacts the way we behave and the type of human being we develop into. In such a crucial and developmental time of our lives, friendship is essential and their impact will remain with us throughout our lifetime. An optimum group should be around 8 close friends.

The first step to dealing with peer pressure would be to reflect on what you want to do, not anyone else. Then, make it clear to your peers that you want to do something else than what they are pressuring you to do. Finally, if they still try to pressure you into a circumstance by taunting you or such, tell a trusted individual about it and they can take over.

Aryan: On the topic of peer pressure, bullying is way too common and way too serious. There is also discrimination that one faces. What’s the best way to deal with it? Have you ever had conflicts at school? If so, how did you deal with them?

Anusha: Bullying is unacceptable. But when it happens to someone, they can feel left out and isolated by their peers. People can go down bad paths as they try to escape the pain and isolation they felt from others. It's important to speak up about things that bother you, otherwise, you can make bad decisions alone, along with being confident when others try to push you down.

Aryan: Coming to academics and extracurricular activities, how important do you think sports and other activities play a role in a student’s life? It looks as if it is mandatory to be a part of ‘something’ apart from studies. How true is that? What if someone hasn’t been able to find that ‘something’?

Anusha: Extracurricular activities are really important. It provides you the opportunity to discover yourself outside of your academic studies. Sports are equally as important, and it is crucial to develop such skills at a young age so that you can utilize them when you get older. If you haven’t found that “something” yet, don’t give up! You have your whole life in front of you, and there are plenty more chances for you to find it.

Aryan: What is a good way to manage time if one is an active sportsperson? How can you have a work-life balance?

Anusha: Time management is essential, and by that, I mean that if you are passionate about something, and this so-called something helps you in life, go for it. What I like to do is organize my agenda so that I can fit everything as it should be.

Aryan: The pressure of academics and performance is immense in a student’s life. To top it there are comparisons to deal with. What is your mantra here? How do you handle stress and pressure?

Anusha: To manage your time, you should prioritize your agenda, stay organized, take breaks in between, simplify how you work when you have so many tasks on the table. 

School is a very demanding and busy time of life. Thinking positively, and learning from mistakes you make along the way can help deal with pressure. This journey teaches you life skills that are important to take along with you in your adult life. Self-care is important to focus on and focus on what you can control. 

Aryan: Are you involved with any community service projects? What have you learned?

Anusha: I have done over 400 hours of volunteering service since middle school. These include volunteering for hospital work, Irvine summer camps, tutoring, nonprofit work, etc. I have worked with various non-profits and have started my own initiative where I have collected funds ($900). Throughout this process, I have learned that giving is always better than getting.

Aryan: What do you think is the most important thing you can learn in school?

Anusha: The most important thing I learned in school is that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Always remain curious and ask questions when you have them. There is so much out there we have yet to learn, and schooling has helped us build that potential to continue to do so. So many life skills obtained through school as well: creativity, leadership, teamwork skills. 

Aryan: With examinations such as the S.A.T, G.M.A.T, P.S.AT, etc. being canceled, what are your thoughts on the matter?

Anusha: Standardized exams provide a good analysis of a student on the national level, but cannot assess a student’s true skills and abilities. I feel like this cancellation provides students with the opportunity to prove their capabilities in more creative and expressive ways that will help them and possibly give more opportunities. 

Aryan: Coming to the COVID-19. How did life change for you and how were you able to adapt? How have you been able to deal with change? 

Anusha: Adjusting to online school, new credit/no credit system was tough for me and all of my classmates in our junior year at high school. I am grateful that this stay at home order and quarantine allowed me to spend valuable time with my family, especially a chance to spend more time with my grandma.

Interviewer: That’s it for today’s interview. Thank you for your time Anusha.