Question 1: Please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Answer: Hi everyone, I am Samreen Samar, from Bihar. I recently completed my graduation from Maitreyi College in Bachelor of Commerce. I have remained a part of four societies namely, Placement Cell, Enactus, Marketricks, and National Service Scheme (NSS). I have served in the core team as corporate and finance head at horizon, the placement cell.
Question 2: You have been an all-rounder all your life, so we would like to know the inspiration behind your versatility.
Answer: I have always believed that one should never limit themselves to any one field and this is what I have always abided by. I have always tried to give my best to everything I encounter in life. I believe in the holistic development of my personality instead of only excelling in one field of learning.
Being a silver medalist at a state-level chess tournament was not an easy achievement. It was full of challenges but I never stopped myself from putting in my efforts as much as I could. When I came to Maitreyi College, I kept myself open to all the opportunities that came my way. We never know what life has in store for us hence we should turn all the opportunities to our advantage. This is what inspired me in my journey to becoming a silver medalist at KVS Foundation Chess Tournament, where I proudly represented Chandigarh and also a published author.
Question 3: When did you first start playing chess? Also, what made you choose chess, a not-so-common game, instead of any other games out there?
Answer: I started playing chess in the eighth standard. I wouldn’t say that I was particularly interested in chess or that I had some extraordinary talent in the game. Instead, it was my introverted nature that helped me hone my chess-playing skills and led me to where I am today. During my school days, I wasn’t too confident about myself and neither was I an extrovert. Unlike other kids my age who played outdoor games like cricket, basketball, etc. I preferred staying in and playing indoor games especially chess since I didn't have to interact with anyone and play by myself. But you must think how I came all the way here being an introvert. It was all because of my mentor and my idol Srivastava Sir who recognized my passion and motivated me to play chess professionally. Initially, I made many mistakes and faced many failures but I never stopped. With Srivastava Sir’s guidance, I worked hard and bagged a gold medal at a school-level chess tournament, qualified for state level where I represented Chandigarh and bagged a silver medal, and finally participated in a national level chess tournament held at IIT, Mumbai. Moreover, I chose chess over all other games as it highly depends on our cognitive abilities which was my forté. I have always been good with academics and activities which involve brainstorming and other mental processes. Chess helped me improve my mental presence and the way of approaching problems I constantly face in life.
Question 4: Can you describe a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone to achieve a particular objective? What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience?
Answer: There have been several times when I had to come out of my comfort zone for my development. Initially, when I was only an amateur in playing chess professionally and lost a few matches, I began playing chess games at cyber cafés through which I could even earn some money as per my performance and time spent. So this was a huge leap for me towards success by stepping out of my comfort zone. I have never been an avid social media user but I made use of WhatsApp to approach Srivastava Sir for helping me out with tips and better strategies to hone my skills. Therefore, I can proudly say that by making small efforts I have come a long way and it's all because I stayed consistent in working hard towards achieving my goal. I never limited myself because of my weaknesses instead I tried my best to overcome them and be a better version of myself. My failures and me stepping out of my comfort zone taught me a lot about life. It helped me realize that success doesn’t come overnight. We have to constantly work hard by giving it our all little by little.
Question 5: How do you balance your personal interests and hobbies with your academic responsibilities? Also, how do you handle pressure and stress during challenging periods?
Answer: It was not difficult for me to maintain a balance between my academics and personal interests. Since I was not engaged in any outdoor games but only chess which I could even play on my phone, it was easy for me to make time for everything I was supposed to do. The time most students my age spend on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, etc. was the time I used to play chess on my phone, be it during my leisure time or while traveling in the metro. Thus my academic responsibilities and hobbies never collided. By refraining from using social media, I could contribute ample time to all my endeavors.
My mother has been the inspiration behind my being able to relieve stress during challenging periods in this fast-paced life. The best way to handle pressure and stress is to take a long deep breath. We feel pressure only until we are pressurized, so we should try to calm ourselves down. Sometimes we are the only ones who complicate a situation that eventually stresses us out. To reduce this stress we should carefully introspect, find out our mistakes and work on ourselves. This way we’ll be able to rise above the complications and the pressurizing moments and be able to treat them like any other normal encounters we face in life.
Question 6: As you’ve worked under many government-aided schemes such as National Children’s Science Congress and many more, what made you work under these schemes?
Answer: Working under these schemes was one of the best experiences for me, particularly the National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC), an ideal and innovative program for children to inspire, empower and expand their minds to the world. Though I was an introvert, I always wanted to gain self-confidence in public speaking and this scheme helped me fulfill that. I got an opportunity to present a model and express myself, my unique thoughts, and my beliefs in front of IITians. Hence my drive to be better at communicating my thoughts to other people made me work under these schemes.
Question 7: You are also a published author and have written many articles under the well-known JEC Publications and The Write Order Publications, so can you tell us how you approached these publications?
Answer: Initially I was an introvert and was always a little hesitant in expressing myself, but I found solace in writing whatever I felt, experienced, liked, or disliked. Soon I was able to weave my disorganized thoughts into threads of beautiful poems, inspiring stories, and informative articles. I got my breakthrough when I got an offer to send in my article and become a published author through Instagram. At first, I didn’t take it seriously as I did not know if I was good enough and just submitted my article as a hit-and-trial method. But I was shocked when after about a fortnight I received an email congratulating me on the selection of my article. So this is how I became a published author. After this success, I thought about approaching different publications by searching for different organic publications, their Instagram pages, and official websites.
Question 8: How do you apply the knowledge and skills gained from extracurricular activities to your academic as well as other pursuits?
Answer: Chess involves different cognitive abilities, hence it helps me in other aspects of life as well, particularly in my academic pursuits. Chess has helped evoke my mental presence and improved my far-sightedness. While playing chess I always have to think about my next moves in advance which has greatly influenced my mental abilities to solve problems both in my professional as well as personal life. My involvement in extracurriculars has taught me the value of punctuality which is still very applicable in all spheres of life. Being able to present myself at a public level, helped me enhance my communication skills as well as interpersonal relationships which is of highest value in the current scenario.
Question 9: How do you approach goal-setting in long-term planning to ensure your success in various areas of your life?
Answer: The best way to achieve a long-term goal is to stay consistent. True, there can be times when our priorities change but even small efforts go a long way to help us achieve our desired goal. Being connected with other writers, implementing their suggestions, and getting their appreciation has always pushed me to give time to whatever I enjoy doing. I always make sure to give as much time as possible to playing chess and writing. In order to achieve a long-term goal, you don’t have to do something extraordinary. Just be true to yourself and your passion and keep making efforts. Remember to never procrastinate.
Question 10: How do you stay motivated and maintain a high level of performance always? Also, what tips will you give to those who get demotivated and are not able to reach the path of success?
Answer: The best way for me to stay motivated is to surround myself with supporting people who are always ready to guide me and the best example of such a person is Srivastava Sir. He was, is, and will always remain my idol. He is a source of inspiration for me whenever life gets challenging or if I face any issues pertaining to chess. I maintain constant reminders for myself to stay motivated. The wallpaper set on my phone is a chess board that keeps me driven towards my passion and goal. My Instagram Bio is related to my achievements as a writer and a state-level chess player. Whenever I get asked about my achievements, I feel proud and the appreciation I receive in return keeps me motivated to work hard towards my dreams and goals in life.
Honestly, I believe, getting demotivated is a part of any journey. There are times when we can feel like just giving up and lose self-esteem. But I advise all those who are reading this to never give up. Hard work always pays off, you’ll get what is due to you. If the journey was easy, anyone could achieve success. But challenges are meant for strong people to push themselves to be their better selves. It's okay if you feel demotivated but what’s more important is how much you are willing to do to overcome that. That’s when our determination is tested. So, I would suggest all of you never give up, though it is alright to take a break for yourselves.
HIGHLIGHTS-
●She is a silver medalist in a state-level chess tournament where she proudly represented Chandigarh.
●She is a published author under well-known publications like JEC Publications and The Write Order Publications.
●Being an introvert never stopped her from achieving whatever she dreamt of. She never limited herself to any one particular field.
●She doesn’t believe in comparing herself with others, instead her only focus is to strive to be a better version of herself.
●Her versatility and perseverance in the face of challenges make her unique and is a motivation for all young people out there.
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