Shalini Gupta

SIM Achievers Emerging top among competitors from local and private institutions in Singapore for two years in a row is no mean feat. But this is what Shalini Gupta and her teammate have achieved having participated in the TATA Crucible: The Campus Quiz, Singapore in the past two years. She tells us what drives her to excel. Fill in the blank with the adjective that describes yourself best: I am committed Please elaborate on why you chose the adjective above. When I begin a task or say yes to a challenge, I am committed to finish it. I don’t like to leave anything incomplete, even if it takes me a long time to achieve my desired goal. You’ve won the prestigious TATA Crucible Campus Quiz twice in a row. What keeps you motivated to participate in such competitions? The journey to the ‘Crucible Day’ (day of the quiz) is beautiful in its own way. The fact that I get to learn so much about different companies and successful people keeps me motivated. I am always excited to be on stage and to participate in the quiz. Also, having won before, it gives me a sense of responsibility to do better and to defend the title while representing Singapore in the international round. What was the biggest challenge that you faced during these competitions and how did you overcome them? The Tata Crucible Quiz is based on companies, businessmen, news, et cetera. It does not have a set syllabus. This was a challenge for me. I had to cover a lot of archived data about many companies. Another big challenge was to balance my studies with quiz work which made me learn to prioritise my work well. How has SIM GE supported your participation in the quizzes? When SIM GE became aware of my quizzing achievements, I was encouraged and given the support needed to work even harder for the next year’s Crucible. The school provided me with a conducive environment to conduct my research and work on my quizzes. This also enabled me to collaborate with my teammate in an efficient manner. How has your experience in the competitions aided you in your personal development? I have been quizzing for 2 years now. The journey has taught me to be more self-aware and prioritise things that will help me grow in the future. I am less distracted. I am better at keeping away from things that hold no meaning to my life. I am definitely more responsible now. Quizzing has helped me evolve as a person. What’s one key lesson that you’ve learned from participating in these competitions? I have learned to be disciplined because I had to focus on both my studies and quizzing. I have come to realise that time is precious and it should be used wisely. This is in contrast to when I wasn’t quizzing and did not realise the importance of time management. What do you hope to achieve in the next three to five years? I am going to start Chartered Accountancy after graduating. I believe in staying focussed on the present. If I am able to work hard in achieving my present goals, I will be able to find more opportunities in the future. #IChoseTheSIMPathway #ThisIsMyStory Click here to learn more about the programmes awarded by the University of London. Posted online, 02 May 2019