Mangaluru: While her Class 10 peers are busy preparing for board examinations and deciding on their subject combinations for PUC, 15-year-old Vishnupriya Pai is criss-crossing Karnataka with a rather different mission: Reaching 51 schools in 15 days to speak to students about exams, stress and managing their time.A class 10 student of Alva’s Central School, Vishnupriya began the initiative on Aug 24 and plans to complete it by Sept 12. By Wednesday, she had conducted sessions at 31 schools, with her activities being monitored by the Golden Book of World Records.The one-hour sessions, primarily aimed at students of class 8 and 9, cover examination preparation, stress and time management, emotional balance and practical study techniques. They are being conducted at both govt and private schools.“The record would be nice, but that is not the main reason I’m doing this. I want to reach as many students as I can and share ideas that might help them,” Vishnupriya told TOI.The idea took shape as she began building her portfolio through counselling and youth-orientation programmes. Having personally used several of the techniques she now teaches, Vishnupriya believes students are able to relate to her more easily because she is close to their age.She describes herself as a certified counselling practitioner and youth orienter. Her interest in psychology began in class 6, following which she pursued courses in the subject and started conducting activities from Class 8 onwards.However, psychology is not among the fields she intends to pursue as a career. “I do not want to restrict myself to any one field because I’m a multitasker,” she said.Her plans, in fact, extend well beyond the classroom. Vishnupriya hopes to pursue CA and LLB simultaneously, while continuing to stay connected to music and entrepreneurial activities.A classical singer and dancer, she has performed at more than 100 programmes across Karnataka, featured in over 20 albums and won several awards in music. This year, she also founded Swara Sawari, a musical team that conducts classical and devotional programmes, workshops and private events.For now, however, managing the logistics of travelling across Karnataka is among her biggest challenges. Coordinating school locations and timings can be particularly demanding on days when as many as four schools are scheduled for her visit.She has been able to juggle these activities while maintaining an academic average of above 95%, according to Vishnupriya.Alva’s Central School principal Mohammed Shafiq described her as “one of the best” in the school and a highly competitive and enthusiastic student with a keen interest in academics and extracurricular activities.“She has remained focused despite distractions and attempts by some of her peers to pull her down,” Shafiq added.Vishnupriya is being supported in her 15-day initiative by a six-member team comprising her parents and four others.
