Once A Next Genius Scholar, Always A Next Genius Scholar!

I was 11 years old when I first dreamed of studying abroad. I handed a list of colleges to my parents and said, "I'm going to be there one day."

Over time, my childhood dreams were replaced by the realities of financial constraints and average grades, and I began to doubt my ability to study abroad. But the night before the Next Genius Online Assessment, I allowed myself to imagine what life could look like if I won the scholarship. I closed my eyes and visualized my first day at Wheaton College, and felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Before I knew it, I was standing on stage accepting a full-tuition scholarship to Wheaton College, MA. It felt like the door to my future had suddenly swung wide open, bringing my once far-off dreams within reach. This scholarship reignited my sense of hope and optimism at the moment when I needed it the most – when I was about to give up on my dreams and conform to the traditional pathways available for my education.

My story is not unique. I have witnessed many fellow Next Genius applicants win full-tuition scholarships and go on to pursue remarkable careers. Anoushka Agarwal, for instance, pursued Human Computer Interaction at Rice University and now works at Oracle. Next Genius scholars graduate from college with exceptional outcomes and often pursue master's programs at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. Many have also secured positions at world-class organizations like Google, Meta, and KPMG. The impact of this scholarship program extends far beyond financial aid—it opens doors to opportunities that once seemed out of reach and empowers students to dream bigger than they ever thought possible.

The Next Genius scholarship didn't just provide financial support; it instilled a sense of possibility and resilience in me. It taught me to approach obstacles with optimism and to believe that nothing is far from reach if I work hard and dream big. This mindset has been crucial in navigating challenges and opportunities in all aspects of my life.

As I continue my journey in public health, I carry the lessons and values instilled by Next Genius with me. The foundation laid during my time at Wheaton College as a Next Genius scholar—the interdisciplinary thinking, the global perspective, and the drive to make a difference—continues to shape my approach to understanding and addressing complex health issues.

I want to encourage all aspiring students to dream big, work hard, and never underestimate the power of a single opportunity to change the course of their life. My journey with Next Genius has shown me that with determination, support, and a bit of faith, even the most ambitious dreams can become reality.

Once a Next Genius scholar, always a Next Genius scholar!

TESTIMONIAL

Sudarshana Shukla, Ex-School Counselor, The Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai

My interactions with Gyana Srivastava were primarily as a Guidance Counsellor at the Cathedral and John Connon School. As part of the ISC class of 2017, I met Gyana once a week during my routine classroom interactions, and found her to be mature with a strong work ethic, especially as a high-schooler. Self-driven and motivated with a goal to explore undergraduate options, within the framework of her academic aspirations and family's financial boundaries set out for higher educational institutions, Gyana engaged in conversations with me to ensure that she had left no leaf unturned in her college search. As a part of my routing interactions I shared Next Genius's Scholarship opportunity with the entire batch, explaining the one of its kind scholarships in India. Gyana took a shot at it and applied for the Next Genius Scholarship and to her very pleasant surprise, she was awarded a full ride scholarship to Wheaton College. After several discussion with her and her family, she took the plunge and attended Wheaton College. Her focus, hard work and drive never left her side, as she proved to be an extremely accomplished young lady.