APRIL

2023
India's Counselling Newsletter

ChatGPT

5 ways you will use

ChatGPT as a
Counselor this year
Featured Articles Editorial Board
03
ChatGPT: A Must for Every Counselors Girish Ballola
How this technology can make your day-to-day
Founder and CEO of Gen Next Education
working more efficient
By Neeraj Mandhana
Jesus Lal
Chairman, Universal Education
06
The Pillars of a School Counseling Office
What we learned to prioritise at our school
Joan Liu
By Arpita Gupta Founder of Second Chance

Neeraj Mandhana
09 Independent Education Consultant
The 8 Work -Life Balance Mistakes You
Will Make Today
And, how to avoid them.
By Bharat Mundra

11
AIVANCITY: A French RevolutAIon
Discover a hidden gem in Paris for your cost-
conscious, AI-focused student
By Awhid Chtioui

14
You Do The Math
What can a Math degree lead to?
By Devesh Lathi

15
The Coaching Tree
Counselor, Mentor, Coach: which hat to wear and
when.
By Revathi Sivakumar

18
Tribes for GOOD
STEM-ming Change: A young high schooler’s effort
to promote science education amongst youth!
By Mandeep Kaur

April Issue 2023 | 2

How this technology can make your day-to-day working more efficient.

By
Neeraj Mandhana
Independent Education Consultant

Technology married humanities, and a baby was born. Sam

Altman named this larger-than-life force ChatGPT. Truly, our
students seem ahead of us when it comes to understanding it,
and even milking it to pull a fast one on us. No doubt, most of us
“grown-ups” still seem to be catching our breath around how AI
works, let alone raise educational and ethical alarms.

Are you ready to incorporate ChatGPT as a game-changing tool

in your counseling office? If yes, read on, and discover five clear-
cut ways in which you, as a counselor, can trump your students in
Neeraj Mandhana the use of this groundbreaking force of nature.

Essay Topic Ideation

Bombarded by another narrative idea on football, cricket, bharatnatyam, or even “helping the
underprivileged”? Where do we go to generate fresh and exciting new ideas for the next great
Indian story? Look at this AI as an idea-generation-factory, one in which you input a whole bunch
of information about your student, and ask what they could write about. Lo and behold, you’ll
soon see a long list of fresh topics. Side benefit: all this will happen within 20 seconds of you
inputting your prompt.

Version One Generator

ChatGPT enables the student to simply input details around an idea, and within seconds
generates a fully-polished article as an output of the word length you desire. What's more, the
piece has immaculate grammar, smooth flow, and pristine vocabulary. All in all, kids will use this
tool to write their essays and submit them to us. High Alert: This is where we need to remind them
that application portals have AI & plagiarism checks built into them. As their mentors, we need to
tell them that chatGPT can be a great tool to generate a version one of their story, a piece they
must modify and insert their own values, tones, personality, technical details, anecdotes, and
stories into the essay.

April Issue 2023 | 3

Research

Students, parents, and counselors, alike can now use chatGPT to

research everything from colleges to majors, to anecdotes and
technicalities of the essays they are writing on. The AI’s cool
research engine is more powerful than any search engine in putting
together results meaningfully when asked simple research queries.
The speed with which it yields well-collected facts and analyses is
mind-boggling.

Recommendation Letter
Tired of endless recommendation letter writing? Struggling to
personalize each letter for the students? chatGPT will now seem
God-sent (your personal cheat sheet!). Command it to write a
recommendation for the mentioned student, furnish as many details
as possible, and get it to write the first sophisticated draft of your
personal recommendation letter. You must now upgrade this
version one and insert your personal touch, instances from across
high school, and your charismatic personality into the letter.

Give Essay Feedback

Your essay feedback is invaluable. It can make the difference
between admit and deny. You identify rookie mistakes, fix grammar,
uneven flow, and enhance vocabulary, and even feedback on how to
say something more meaningfully. But guess what - so can chatGPT.
Enter a student’s writing into the command prompt, followed by: how
can this be improved, give me feedback on this, what will an
admission officer at xyz college think of this essay, how can this
essay be improved upon, what do you think of the person who wrote
this, and be surprised at how accurately the program gives detailed
feedback.

Hello? Hope you haven't fallen off your chair.

PS: Here is an awesome study about which careers will be most

impacted by the rise of AI. Go for a deep dive into it and explore
before you direct students in their careers: tinyurl.com/AiyyoGPT

Team Aiyyo wants to take a moment to express our

sincere gratitude for taking the time to take this short
survey. Your valuable feedback will be instrumental in
helping us tailor our content to meet your needs more
effectively. Thank you.

Submit your survey here: www.aiyyo.in/survey

April Issue 2023 | 4

April Issue 2023 | 5
What we learned to prioritise at our school.

By
Arpita Gupta
Neerja Modi School

The Counseling Department at Neerja Modi School (NMS) in Jaipur

focuses on guiding students to become well-rounded, knowledgeable,
and responsible individuals who can successfully identify, face, and
overcome any real-world challenge. We are committed to providing
individualized guidance that empowers each student to achieve their
personal and academic goals. Here are some of the practices we have
adopted to support our students:
Arpita Gupta

Early Preparation
At our institution, we recognize that early preparation is key to achieving success in higher
education and beyond. We strongly emphasize college readiness, starting as early as grade 8.
Students who have been exposed early to a broad range of experiences are better equipped to
flourish in their higher education pursuits and personal ventures. In addition to stressing
academic achievement, we encourage our learners to explore extracurricular activities,
community service, and leadership opportunities. These experiences help them acquire life skills
like teamwork, time management, and communication. To ensure that our students are well-
prepared for the college application process, we support them with frequent workshops and
webinars on topics such as college essay writing and test preparation, as well as opportunities to
meet with university professors and distinguished alumni. The Counseling Cell also works closely
with parents to provide guidance and support throughout the college preparation process
including subject choices, shortlisting colleges, and scheduling university visits and fairs.

Academic Enhancement
We encourage and facilitate participation in scholastic competitions like Olympiads, research
programs, and other national and international events. NMS believes that such high-intensity
academic challenges prepare our students for the rigor of college-level work. We also provide
guidance on selecting suitable high-school subjects to meet college prep curriculum standards.
Our objective is to foster academic excellence and critical thinking skills that will be invaluable in
students’ future ambitions. One of the aims of our guidance counselors is to instill in our students
the ability to be effective and critical thinkers. We urge our students to read widely, write
frequently, and seek feedback on their writing.

April Issue 2023 | 6

Teamwork
We have made it a top priority to build a strong and dynamic team
that can provide personalized support to all of our students. Our
team comprises of highly devoted and experienced professionals
adept at working seamlessly together. It is due to this team that we
can ensure every student receives the necessary guidance and
assistance to achieve their aspirations. We are committed to making
our team easily accessible to all students. The focus is collaboration
and mutual respect. Whether a student needs help with a specific
academic challenge or a parent needs guidance regarding financial
requirements, our team is always ready and willing to provide the
support needed.

Accessible Resources
We strive to provide our students with the necessary resources to
succeed in their college applications. To this end, we have
collaborated with Unifrog, a comprehensive online platform that
provides information on subjects and universities, making it easier
for students to analyze their options and make informed decisions.
We also supply students with access to technology labs and art
rooms after school. The Counseling Cell promotes self-research and
group work and lets students explore creativity, all while continually
sharing their requirements with the school leadership.

Access and Inclusion

We are proud of our unified commitment to equal opportunities,
particularly our ongoing efforts to sustain first-generation students.
We believe in using empathy and optimism to build a spirit of
resilience that empowers these students to achieve their goals.
Through specially devised tools, we provide academic support,
counseling sessions, and opportunities for community building - all
designed to fill students with the motivation and drive to aim higher
and succeed with flying colors. Over the years, we've had the
privilege of guiding many first-gen students and their parents
through the college application process. It's been rewarding to see
them succeed, and we're proud to have played a role in helping
them navigate this complex and often daunting process. In the past
year, many of our students got into some of the best colleges across
the country and two of our first-generation students gained
admission to prestigious universities in the USA.

Are you a school or an education organization looking to hire a

new counselor or support staff? Or, are you a counselor looking for
a meaningful job change. Aiyyo wants to act as a purposeful and
ethical medium of exchange to help develop talent within India’s
counseling community. Whatever you need be, please email us all
the details at: [email protected]

April Issue 2023 | 7

 yone,
Hello evera quiz
let's play

Criss Cross Puzzle

ACROSS DOWN
3. Online college application system. 1. Person who shares living space.
6. Popular dating app. 2. Work experience for practical learning.
7. Study of resource allocation. 4. Digital currency that uses encryption techniques.
8. Not accepted or rejected, on standby for admission. 5. College near Boston with a focus on
9. Financial award for education. entrepreneurship.
11. Second-year student. 10. Professional who assists with personal, academic,
13. Public research university in the Bay Area. and career issues.
15. Business school at UPenn. 12. Summary of qualifications for job or college.
16. Written composition on a specific topic. 14. Physical location of a university.
17. Permit for entering or leaving a country.

Answers? Click here April Issue 2023 | 8

And, how to avoid them.
By
Bharat Mundra
Founder of Indo-Bharat Online School (IBOS)

Most adults on planet Earth remain highly unsatisfied with what

they are doing with their life. On the other hand, being a Counselor
consistently ranks at the top when it comes to the list of most
satisfying jobs. Pat yourself on the back for discovering a career
that you’re passionate about. Yet, few people know the bane of
Counseling: Work-Life Balance.

Many different forces conspire to throw us off balance: the

number of students you work with is increasing, you’re being
loaded by more work each day, students and parents constantly
Bharat Mundra going back and forth despite your clear guidance, people
expecting you to work beyond office hours.

And above all else: every issue is an emergency, and the family needs you to attend to it on an
urgent basis. Makes you wonder: are we counselors or firefighters? Overworked, and underpaid?

Are you making these 7 fatal work-life balance flaws? Read on and discover the changes you
must make to your lifestyle.

Boundaries, please! Have you given people 24x7 access to you? Do you not have a separate
personal phone? Do you have to take their calls late in the evening, or reply to that Whatsapp at
odd hours? Create specific boundaries in time, space, and in your mind about when you are
working, and when you are not.

Strict Deadlines Are your students not adhering to your strict deadlines? Are they submitting
their essays to you on October 30th for the ED application to Columbia University, and expecting
you to rush and give feedback within the hour? Re-think your yearly calendar, and enforce it
strictly. Communicate your deadlines early to parents, and send constant reminders in the run-
up to these deadlines. Remind people that working last minute is likely going to lead to failure.

Say No People will always make outrageous demands, and as a Counselor, it is your nature to
want to help others. Yet, you don't want to take the proverbial monkey on your back. Learn to
quickly identify when you are taking on other people’s responsibilities, and nip it in the bud. Kill
them with a smile, as you say “No, Thank you, unfortunately, it will not be possible for me to do
this”.

April Issue 2023 | 9

Use Technology & Delegate Communication has become a lot
easier over the past decade. All kinds of apps, software, and
websites can help you do a better job. Think of Cialfo, Google
Calendar, Calendly, and Zoom, amongst others. Use technology as
much as possible to plan, delegate and organize your life.

We just want to meet once. So much of our work is emotional in

nature. The real thing can hardly take time to work through. It’s the
emotional baggage and confidence building, and motivating the
kid, that takes it toll. Requesting that there be a listed agenda before
every meeting can help you become more ready for the meeting,
and be efficient at delivering what’s expected.

Prioritize Your Health Do something to stay fit and healthy every

day. At work, you’re sitting in a chair all day and talking to people
nonstop. Take a ‘Maun Vrat’ for a certain part of your day. Get up
and walk every few hours. Set up alarms on your phone to remind
you to stretch. Keep drinking lots of water. Switch off the screen.
Listen more, and speak less to conserve energy.

Find happiness in the little things Look for small wins. Try to allow for
‘minor balancing acts’ every day. Take the stairs. While taking 15
minutes here or there might seem impossible to do, in reality, it will
have very little impact on your outputs (likely, people won’t even
notice you’ve taken the time). Recharge: a small break can go a long
way.

Creating a harmonious work-life balance will not only help you to

become a fuller, healthier, happier human, but it will likely lead to
greater job satisfaction and, perhaps unexpectedly, more
professional success.

The Million Dollar Question: Which of these will you implement before
Aiyyo’s next issue?

NACAC’s guide offers sound advice on every step of the US college

admissions process, from getting in the right mindset, to researching
universities, to completing application materials. A fantastic go-to
source for students, families, and counselors alike.

Download here: tinyurl.com/aiyyo-april-23

April Issue 2023 | 10

Discover a hidden gem in Paris for your cost-conscious, AI-focused student.

By
Tawhid Chtioui
Dean, Aivancity

Aivancity is a French higher education institution founded in 2020,

in order to meet the many challenges raised by the development
of Artificial Intelligence and Data. The campus is located next to
Paris, in a town called Cachan.

AI is changing the world. The public has discovered the massive

impact of Artificial Intelligence with the launch of Chat GPT at the
end of 2022. In 2 months, Chat GPT has counted more than 100
million users throughout the world when it took Google 4 years
and Netflix 10 years to reach such results. The launch of Chat GPT
has also shown that beyond its technical aspects, AI today raises
many questions about its consequences for business and
Tawhid Chtioui management, but also for people and society at large.

That is why Aivancity has been launched with an hybrid concept built around the triptych
Technology, Business and Ethics. Its mission is to prepare future «AIgineers®» able to address the
many economic and social challenges related to exploitation of data and artificial intelligence’s
potential. Aivancity Graduates are capable of developing computer programs that accelerate
business performance, while ensuring that ethical rules evolve along with technical and societal
developments.

Aivancity is first and foremost a place for students (with undergraduate and postgraduate
programs), a place for exchange and meetings between academia, civil society and the
corporate world, and also a place for executives who want to embrace this structural evolution.

April Issue 2023 | 11

Today, Aivancity is unique in the world thanks to:

Strong values framed by the not-for-profit status of “a school with a

mission” with commitments to employability, diversity, responsibility,
territorial anchoring and openness to the city.
Several state-recognized initial training programs:
Integrated “Grande Ecole program”
BSc in applied Artificial Intelligence (English taught, 3 year
program)
MSc AI & Data Science for Business (English taught, 2 year
program), with internshiAivancity is first and foremost a place
for students (with undergraduate and postgraduate
programs), a place for exchange and meetings between
academia, civil society and the corporate world, and also a
place for executives who want to embrace this structural
evolution.
ps at the end of each year and a work-study program in a
company for the last 2 years
BSc IoT and smart data (French taught, 3 year program)
MSc Data Management (1 or 2-year program)
MSc Data engineering (1 year program)

A summer school allowing students to discover AI and Data, through

innovative lectures, company visits and case studies
A diversified faculty of 82 professors in 12 different disciplines
A 5.0 campus, completely renovated, 10 minutes from Paris’ center
An AI clinic, allowing students to work during 6 to 9 hours per week on
real projects proposed by our partner companies and supervised by
our professors
More than 50 partner companies that welcome our students for
internships or work-study programs, entrust us with their AI Clinic
projects, develop research projects with us, etc.
Lifetime guarantee of degree upgrade@, allowing alumni to continue
their education at aivancity throughout their career
Executive and online courses allowing the greatest number of people
to learn about AI and Data.

Aivancity’s approach has been validated by the French Ministry of Higher

Education, which has just granted aivancity the state recognition and
visa for its 5-year Grande Ecole Program, a first in France in this field.

To know more about Aivancity: https://www.aivancity.ai/en

First and oldest university in the world was established in Taxila aka
Takshashila in between 600-500 BC with 68 subjects to study. Nalanda
University was the first university in the world to have accommodation
quarters for both students and teachers.. 11th President of India Late A. P.
J. Abdul Kalam proposed the idea of reviving the first university of India in
2006 and started its first academic session on September 1, 2014, with 15
students in a temporary base in Rajgir, Bihar, India.

April Issue 2023 | 12

April Issue 2023 | 13
What can a Math degree lead to?
By
Devesh Lathi
Avid Math Lover and Quizmaster at The Next Genius Scholarship Program

Pi Patel is a Grade 10 student who shows up in your office. He loves algebra,

geometry, and calculus. Basically, his brain is left-brained and looks at the
world through a numerical lens. As a Math lover, he is committed to
pursuing the subject at University, but his friends keep reminding him of the
‘E’ word (Engineering).

As the family shows up in your office, Pi sits with a confused look on his
face, and a strong determination to pursue a B.S. Math degree. His parents
look to you for advice on what opportunities lay ahead in life for him. You
reassuringly remind them: Mathematics is a subject that incorporates
abstract thinking, complex argument-making, and solving mind-boggling
puzzles. And degrees in this field can be as intricate and unique as the
theorems you’ll come to resolve.

Devesh Lathi

When choosing a course, you mention that there exist different types of math degrees you can pursue. For
example, at most Math departments one can choose from four different math majors: B.S. in Mathematics,
B.A. in Mathematics, B.S. in Applied Mathematics, and B.S. in Statistics. As you had them a brochure, they
notice that Pi would be required to explore complete basic courses in algebra, combinatorics, calculus and
analysis, differential equations, probability, geometry, topology, number theory, numerical analysis, statistics,
and theoretical computer science, during his Bachelor's degree.

Soon enough, they begin wondering if their child will earn enough as a Math teacher. If indeed young Pi will
become a Math Professor, a school teacher, or an IIT prep academy lecturer. You chime in to reassure them
that several technical professions require a unique set of skills that you can learn by completing a degree in
Math: Computer Science, IAS, Data Science, Consulting, Business Management, Finance and Investments,
Cryptography, Law, and Business Analytics for example. In the world of big data (which many say is the new
oil), analytics, AI, and Math majors are highly valuable. In closing, you turn to Pi, and wish him good luck with
balancing his equations, getting his count right, and above not being imaginary, but rational with his
decision-making (all Math puns intended!).

For Pamela Colon Sharma

Dhirubhai Ambani International School
Hey Pam!! Thank you for always making time for me; for all the 15 minute
check-ins that inevitably ballooned to hourlong Atharva-reassuring sessions.
For being a rock through the whirlwind of the IB – encouraging me over
Atharva Nihalani overdue IA drafts, all the crammed in ECAs, and the dozen different drafts of
Brown University
my CommonApp. For always being in my corner. For being a friend. Thank you.

April Issue 2023 | 14

Counselor, Mentor, Coach: which hat to wear and when.

By
By
Revathi Shivakumar
President, AIIEC

Counselor:
A person who helps students and families make decisions about
their academic, career direction, and college education.

Mentor:
A mentor is someone who shares their knowledge, skills, and/or
experience, to help another to develop and grow.

Coach:
A coach is someone who provides guidance to a client on their
Revathi Sivakumar
goals and helps them reach their full potential.

While Mentoring is directive, coaching is non-directive. In mentoring meetings, it is likely to be the

mentor doing more of the talking, whereas in coaching it is likely to be the coach posing
questions and giving the person they are coaching the space to reflect and do most of the
talking. In every meeting with students and parents you have three choices: share information
and let them make a decision, direct and give advice yourself, or, assist them to make their own
decision and own it. When do you choose the latter, and why?

WHEN is Coaching the right tool?

Coaching can be a potent tool when we see a recurrent pattern of behavior that needs changing
or if we come across any limiting self-belief. When we spot a coachable moment, it is time to
take off the mentor hat and lead the student to go within. It can be spontaneous and a great
opportunity to help the student learn from within.

How do we make the shift?

The segue from mentoring to the coaching needs the student to be receptive and to actively
participate. Here, we move from guiding and advising as a mentor, to simply wanting to know. It
could happen as follows.

“I notice you said ………, shall we look more at ………..”

“I am picking up ……… from you and would like to look at this with you if that is ok.”
“Shall we explore ……….. and see what comes out of it?”

April Issue 2023 | 15

 What do we do when we coach?
We come from a space of non-judgment and also set clear boundaries of what can be shared
with parents/guardians. We probe and listen deeply. Deep listening requires that we are
completely present, without distractions. We do not start formulating the next question mentally,
even as the first answer is on (something that I personally had to really work on to overcome). We
ask clarifying questions to understand better – “Can you tell me more? What do you mean by….”
We are alert and also watch out for body language. We use a coaching framework like the GROW
Model, to structure the conversation. The table below gives a couple of examples of how the
model works.

GROW MODEL Scenario 1 Scenario 2

Student has been faring poorly Student has rushed a submission, tends
in Maths despite all the pep talk to procrastinate
and tuitions

Goals : ASK what do we want to To get a better Math score, Meet all deadlines comfortably, score at
achieve? move from 80% to 90% at least least a B+ on such work
Student says something. Probe and clarify till there
is clarity on the goal. Why is it important to you?

Reality : ASK where the is student Scoring 80% with average Missed a couple of submissions or
currently? effort. turned in rushed work because it got
delayed.
Probe their answers further

Obstacles : ASK what comes in the way of What stops them from doing What is causing rushed work and
achieving their goal? better in math? What are the missed submissions?
Just probe and listen to see without drawing challenges?
any conclusions.

Way Forward : What are the next What should they be doing To complete quality work in time, what
steps? differently to get a better math should they be doing differently?
How to support consistatly, ensure periodic score? Get the student to list The solution comes from them. The
updates and target delivery, gauge their desired actions down in an student should list it all down.
commitment, and ensure accountability? internally driven manner.

After this session, we check-in as agreed. It keeps the student accountable and helps us gauge if
we are on track or if another conversation is needed.

April Issue 2023 | 17

 WHY do we coach?
Because sometimes, we KNOW that no amount of “telling” will work. Our students need to realize it
for themselves and be accountable. We coach them to EMPOWER and give them increased
agency over their actions.

As you finish reading this article …

Watch the next 10 meetings you do with students, parents, and both students and parents, and
review them from the perspective of coaching versus mentoring. Reflect carefully and realize how
to handle similar situations differently in the future. Now ask yourself: How are you bringing
coaching consciously into your counseling repertoire this month?

Shirshika Kapoor, City Montessori School Lucknow

Across the last 5+ years, with continuous effort, talking to admission officers,
training workshops, and online research, I’ve built skillsets in aptitude testing,
profile building, skill development, and study abroad and Indian college
admissions. I’m excited about keeping up to date every month with Aiyyo’s
ME IS newsletter in the future. It’s cool that our community has such a wonderful
HE LLO ! MY NA
IKA
SHIRSHR resource.

KAPOO
April Issue 2023 | 18
STEM-ming Change: A young high schooler’s effort to promote science
education amongst youth!

By
Mandeep Kaur
TribesforGOOD

Changemaking is an organic process that can begin from

personal life experiences. TribesforGOOD's ChangeWarrior, Somin
Narain, a Grade 12 student at Sanskriti School, Delhi NCR, believes
that what is personal is also political. Somin was diagnosed with
learning disabilities at the age of six and studied with special
educators making everyone assume that his IQ was low. A
reluctant Somin spoke to us in 2021 and delayed his enrolment for
over 4 months and finally agreed to teach his favourite subject
Mathematics to 10 students from government schools. He got an
overwhelming response from his first class making him
understand his role in reducing education inequity and his
Mandeep Kaur personal role in being a change agent. From his personal
experience, he was well aware of the significance of Mathematics,
and how extra motivation could help students pursue it more
passionately

In a study by UIC Research on Urban Education Policy Initiative, it was found that students who
perform well in Algebra have better chances to explore advanced STEM courses and are more
likely to enrol in college, graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, go on to well-paid, in-demand
careers and overcome inter-generational poverty.

Role of Educators & Community Service.

As an educator, it is important to help students view community service not as just another item
on their checklist but as something that truly resonates with their values. Through service, high
schoolers can experience a sense of fulfilment and meaning in their lives by contributing to a
cause they care about. The journey is so enriching that even students who join without much
regard for community service end up with a deeper respect for it. Through our work with over
1750+ students across 15 countries, we have seen students build up the skills mentioned below.

April Issue 2023 | 18

Build Empathy:

Social impact programs allow high schoolers to break their bubble of privilege and renew their
sense of empathy and respect for people. While meaningful engagement with underprivileged
communities certainly is an eye-opener, even interactions with peers prove to be game-
changing. Zehn Kashyap (Grade 10, Vasant Valley), an advocate for differentness, urged her peers
at TribesforGOOD to stand up for cyber-bullying. Her detailed narrative of her journey as a
changemaker was a testament that sharing our stories can inspire, empower and build empathy
in others.

Learning New Skills & Fostering a Growth Mindset

When following a structured approach and working at the grassroots, students learn about 1)
new dimensions of society 2) build 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving,
creativity, communication etc. and 3) challenge themselves to explore unexplored potential such
as building apps or making a documentary. Sunidhi Patil (Grade 11, DHB Soni College) taught at a
Observation Home - an institution where abandoned children and juveniles in detention are
sheltered - in her hometown, Solapur, Maharashtra. Later, she increased her knowledge about
financial inclusion and expanded to human trafficking survivors. Some like Somin choose to
expand their work by building apps.

Build A Sense of Community

A few of our high schoolers have explored citizen leadership by playing a key role in their own
communities. Urvi Kochhar (Grade 12), through her initiative VASTRAM is tackling climate change
by ensuring clothes don't end up in landfills. Niharika (Grade 10, Pathways Noida) made a
documentary titled "Maahtari", on the gender-based struggles of tribal women in Chhattisgarh.
Another climate activist, Jiana Lakdawala (Grade 10, The Cathedral and John Connon School)
had an epiphany on climate change when a fellow teammate recalled being breathless on the
school bus.

Develop a Sense of Purpose:

With some nudging, students understand that they can serve our society using their own
passions. It is about finding what they are truly passionate about.

In conclusion, service and social impact can be powerful tools for personal growth and
development. By sensitizing young people to the inequities in the world and helping them see the
value in service, we can empower them to become empathetic leaders and change agents in
their communities.

Aiyyo’s vision is to become India’s premier magazine for the high school
counseling community. A place of up-to-date, meaningful, and actionable
content that our readers keep coming back to every month. Our digital nature
means that readers can click links and connect with online opportunities right
away. By partnering with us, you can be confident that your communiqué will be
seen by the right people at the right time. Email [email protected] to learn
more.

April Issue 2023 | 19

April Issue 2023 | 20