At just 16-years-old, Dhiksha Shreya Devi from Kavuli, Tavua is making her family proud after winning the prestigious National Geographical Information System Award for the second consecutive year.
Her parents, Ratnesh and Shalini Chand expressed their overwhelming pride and gratitude for their daughter’s dedication and success.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Ratnesh Chand says seeing his daughter win the award back-to-back is an incredible moment for the family.
He says he is proud of her creativity, time management and eagerness to learn.
He also credit his daughters success to her determination and passion and thanked the teachers at Tavua College for their guidance and support.
He adds that the whole family is committed to helping Devi in school-based and national competitions, believing that her strong will and curiosity have contributed significantly to her achievements.
Devi’s mother, Shalini Chand says parents should always encourage their children in both education and extracurricular activities, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive environment.
She believes that a child's success is largely influenced by the encouragement they receive at home.
Meanwhile, Dhiksha Shreya Devi says winning the award two years in a row has motivated her to keep pursuing excellence.
She explains that her model “Mapping Minds, Shaping the World" demonstrates how Geographic Information Systems play an essential role in various industries like surveying, businesses and transportation.
She says despite not taking Geography as a subject in Year 11, she was eager to explore new fields and with support from her family, friends, and teachers, she was able to create a project that highlights the importance of GIS in everyday life.
Devi says balancing her studies and preparing for the competition was a challenge, but she managed her time by completing her schoolwork during school hours which allowed her to focus on research and model preparation at home.
She further says even with her Annual Examination approaching, she was able to handle both her academic and competition commitments through determination.
When asked about her upcoming plans, Devi says she is already planning her participation in next year’s competition, aiming to incorporate new aspects of GIS into her next project.
The 16-year-old encourages other students to participate in competitions as they provide an opportunity to broaden knowledge, explore hidden talents and improve creativity and critical thinking.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
