Riddhima Kulkarni is an undergraduate third year student of Interaction Design at Anant National University and she also serves as general secretary of the student council. Her creative interest areas vary from graphics and painting to the thrill of biking, and Kathak has been close to her heart for seven long years now. 

Whether it’s creating beautiful graphics or organising an exciting event, she comes alive by bringing ideas to life and relating to others. She believes event management is her true calling, and is excited to start the journey with special focus on event design, that will allow her to fuse her passion for creativity with the experience she has gained in leadership.

The student council representative is a coveted position. How do you carry out your responsibilities and studies together?

Being a representative of the student council requires balancing the responsibilities and studies with good time management, prioritisation, and effective communication. The role calls for being the voice of students, organising events, resolving issues, and working with faculty, all while maintaining academic performance.

I plan a schedule that allows me to attend to council duties, studies, and personal tasks. The responsibility of tasks within the council team is delegated to others, and help is sought when needed so that tasks are completed without me feeling overwhelmed. Regular communication with peers ensures that their concerns are addressed effectively and fosters collaboration.

Challenges include managing deadlines, stress due to multitasking, and sustaining consistent performance both in academics and extracurriculars. Moreover, conflicts of interest often arise among the students or even between the students and faculty and require diplomacy along with problem-solving skills to sort out.

Still, this role teaches invaluable lessons in leadership, teamwork, and adaptability, making me a more confident and capable individual.

Fulfilling your responsibilities as a student council representative has its pros and cons. Friends have their umpteen demands on you. How do you maintain the same? Mention the challenges that come alongside this role.

Being a student council representative is never easy, especially when your friends have numerous expectations. Balancing their demands while fulfilling your responsibilities requires clear communication and boundaries. For this reason, I put transparency first. I listen to their concerns and tell them about the limitations of my position and how my intention is to fairly represent all students.

One must not favour someone because he is a friend. Time management is also a very important factor. I try to address their demands without compromising the overall responsibilities of the council or my personal commitments. Open discussions and setting realistic expectations help prevent misunderstandings.

How much time do you spend on social media daily? Do you find it distracting?

It varies, but I do my best to make it worthwhile. On an average, I spend around 1-2 hours daily mainly to keep myself connected, explore ideas, and get inspiration. Social media is either a tool or a distraction based on the usage. I do network through it by connecting with the peers, professionals, and communities that align with my interests and goals.

I believe social media helps me to learn (platforms like LinkedIn, Pinterest, or Instagram expose me to creative ideas, trends, and opportunities), and showcase my work (sharing my projects helps build a portfolio and gain valuable feedback).

Have you understood the takeaways of the National Education Policy 2020? 

NEP 2020 envisions to provide more holistic, flexible, and student-centered education. Some of the key points are as follows:

A New School Structure of 5+3+3+4 that focuses on early childhood education, foundational literacy, and flexible learning pathways.

Multidisciplinary learning: breaks up boundaries of disciplines to promote critical thinking, creativity, and vocational skills.

Reforms in Higher Education: Flexible degrees with multiple entry/exit points and an emphasis on research and innovation.

Technology: Learning, teaching, and assessments.

Regional Languages: Teaching in mother tongue upto Grade 5 to strengthen students’ cultural roots.

Inclusive Education: Focus on the disadvantaged with scholarships and support.

Better Assessments: Holistic report cards and skill-based assessment instead of cramming.

NEP makes education more inclusive, skill-oriented, and future-ready by gearing students to face global challenges.

Do you think the post of a student council representative helps you develop your soft skills and makes you ready for life after school too?

Being a student council representative helps gain experience in developing those essential skills that are directly applicable to the professional world. For instance, heading initiatives and being the voice of students teaches effective team management, while regular communication with peers, faculty, and stakeholders sharpens both verbal and written communication skills. This role also mimics the dynamics of the workplace since working in a diverse council helps boost teamwork and enables good understanding of how to work with individuals who come from different backgrounds and outlooks.

Also, solving the problems of fellow students helps develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are essential at the workplace. Balancing academic duties with council work hones time management and prioritisation skills. Event management, whether through cultural programmes or workshops, would enable you to plan and budget firsthand and coordinate with stakeholders. In addition, handling disputes or disagreements trains you in conflict resolution and negotiation, which are extremely important in the professional world.

Also read:

Students Corner: Gunika Talwar, Head Girl, Gems Cambridge International School, Hoshiarpur