Widen your horizons
If classroom discussions and inter-college debates give you a high, then channel this interest and join a world youth forum. Such a 
platform will not only give you an international perspective, but will also bolster your career prospects.
Participation in events like the G8 Youth Summit is a very significant part of your education. These “extra-scholastic” activities have been acknowledged by the CBSE, and firms looking to hire value such experience as well. Meghasree Sinha, HR manager of East India Group, says, “A candidate who has an exposure to international youth forums definitely stands a better chance during recruitment.”
At an international forum, you share a platform with business leaders, students, activists and academics from across the world. After such high-level interactions, you tend to think out of the box.
Bhanu Joshi, a final-year student of the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, led an eight-member team to the G8 Youth Summit in Milan, Italy, this year. What are the tools for spotting such opportunities? Bhanu replies, “I spend at least 2-3 hours on the Internet. Then I scan the college notice board and posters on the campus.”
Sharpen the pen
Ruchika Pokhriyal, a student of biomedical sciences at the Acharya Narendra Dev College, will represent the Indian youth at the UN convention on climate change in Copenhagen, a chance that came her way after taking first place in the Prithvi Ratna National Essay Writing Competition on climate change, held some time ago.
Shravanti Joshi and Anoop Ramakrishna went to the World Youth Forum in Geneva this year after their essays were chosen by the Department of Telecommunication. The topic was ‘The biggest problems faced by our community and how we can use information and 
communication technology to solve them’.
Think differently
To win an essay competition, present your ideas with clarity and show an ability to think beyond the obvious.
Ruchika wrote about the melting of the Jhelum glacier, and to prepare, she read research papers. Bhanu, a student of journalism, says that to make your essay incisive, you must be well-informed in areas beyond your field of study.
Shravanti adds, “Though I’m an engineering student, writing about social problems doesn’t need technical knowledge. What you need are clear thoughts and the ability to express them lucidly.”
Author: Vimal Chander Joshi
Date: 2nd Dec., 2009
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