One example of his tenaciousness was when he was unable to conduct some of his planned experiments in the lab physically for his independent research project. When some restrictions were lifted and he was allowed to go into the lab after many months to collect data, he worked extra fast and longer each week so that he could collect all the data that he needed in the limited time available.<\/p>\n
17-year-old Sathe likes to play table tennis, badminton, the guitar and video games like other teens, and also loves to brew coffee and cook, unlike many teens.\u00a0 Living in Singapore for 13 years, he joined GIIS in Grade 8 and transitioned from the IGCSE curriculum to IBDP. While he found the IB coursework challenging, he says, his teachers and classmates helped him along the way.<\/p>\n
Sathe has accepted an offer from Imperial College, London to study molecular bioengineering as he plans to get into research in the field of synthetic biology. We spoke to him to know more about how he took up the challenges of student life that has brought him academic and all-round success.<\/p>\n
\u200d<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no better way to understand this than knowing that if you choose the subjects you genuinely are interested in, learning can only be fun and rewarding.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t have a favourite subject as I was very careful to choose subjects I was genuinely passionate about at the start of IB. The TOK (Theory of Knowledge) component in the IB is inherently challenging and like nothing you’ve likely done before.<\/p>\n I watched videos, analysed sample essays, and read articles and blogs to improve my grasp on the subject. It is very important that you choose a topic you are genuinely interested in for your Extended Essay (EE) as you will be putting in months of effort into it. It is easier to keep yourself motivated if you enjoy your subject,\u201d says Sathe.<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n As a student, a very common mistake is the habit of procrastination and leaving things for tomorrow that never comes. Learning to prioritise your goals and managing time from an early age helps. \u201cManaging my time and keeping my head level even when under pressure was a learning experience. If you are backed up with work (which you will be, at some point in the course) you need to be able to persevere through and get it done.\u00a0 The IB helped me learn and push my personal limits of mental stamina, be it writing 40 pages of a research paper overnight or understanding the course content,\u201d says Sathe.<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n Making time for an extracurricular<\/a> activity you love can rejuvenate you for academic challenges. Don\u2019t overload yourself though!<\/p>\n \u201cI always set aside time in the day to focus on hobbies and to relax. It was to ensure equal parts studies and enjoyment. As an avid table tennis player, I participated in inter school table tennis competitions regularly. I was also selected to represent Singapore at the World Robotics Olympiad in Sochi, Russia in 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn school I was part of a few clubs and volunteered at an animal shelter for most of Year 1. I would usually set aside some time in the week to do a CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) activity or learn something new just to keep my brain refreshed. This really helped prevent burnout and pushed me to finish my work faster,\u201d adds Sathe.<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n It\u2019s always a great idea to learn new skills. Participating in camps and clubs can not only develop social skills but are surely a lot of fun!<\/p>\n \u201cI took part in the Mission Discovery boot camp held by ISSET and NASA in 2019, where we worked on an experiment for the International Space Station with a goal focussing towards the betterment of human society.<\/p>\n I also started a student company with 11 of my friends as part of the Junior Achievement Company Of the Year (COY) 2020 competition, where we developed, manufactured, marketed and sold a product with funding from fellow student investors over a span of six months.<\/p>\n Additionally, I was the head of logistics in the Astronomy Club, and helped plan and carry out various events throughout Year 1,\u201d shares Sathe.<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n \u200d<\/p>\n \u201cKeep a consistent timetable throughout the IB as doing two hours of work every day is better than spending 8-9 hours studying one day before exams, cramming everything in. Don’t procrastinate in your Internal Assessments, EE or TOK essay to prioritise studying for exams; treat both with equal importance,\u201d advises Sathe.<\/p>\n \u201cPlanning ahead with focus on milestones, giving myself breaks and rewarding myself after finishing a set task, all helped me to stay motivated throughout the IBDP course. Also, I genuinely enjoyed what I was doing. It was interesting and stimulating work where I strived to push myself to do better. I\u2019m proud of the work I’ve done in my DP,\u201d adds Sathe.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uploads-ssl.webflow.com\/5dcd55e0046a8a43b6f6e2a1\/6694ea70a2939c533b10645f_Updated_Blog_Banner_787pxWx180pxH_July_24.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nHere are some tips from Vaideha on what you can do to avoid common mistakes:<\/h3>\n
1. Choose subjects you are passionate about<\/h3>\n
2. Manage time wisely<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uploads-ssl.webflow.com\/5dcd55e0046a8a43b6f6e2a1\/620f949637a61e686045e0b6_Vaideha%20quote%20image%202%20(1)-min.jpg\")
<\/div>3. Make time for extracurriculars to avoid burnouts<\/h3>\n
4. Participate in clubs as grooming for later responsibilities in life<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uploads-ssl.webflow.com\/5dcd55e0046a8a43b6f6e2a1\/620b8f53443ebd5764a0d9a6_61136fc86ec8ee5a4a3ce576_Vaideha%20(1).jpg\")
<\/div>5. Pay attention to internal assessments<\/h3>\n
6. Take breaks as rewards for finishing set tasks; stay motivated<\/h3>\n