Pragna Sree Gollapalli, is fifteen years old, studying in class 11 in Delhi Public School in Uganda. She is a fun-loving girl. She likes traveling to different countries, a food lover, and a sports enthusiast. Pragna plays active roles in the school teams like football, basketball, and volleyball and in her free time enjoys playing chess and carroms. She is very keen to learn new things which will enable her to grow in her career. She wants to be a successful doctor.
She is a nature enthusiast, whenever Pragna comes across beautiful things found in nature, she takes the best shot with her phone camera. She has four dogs and a tortoise. Pragna adopted an elephant and a lion cub in the zoo. Academically she is interested both in maths and sciences. Also, she likes to participate in cultural activities and she takes up new challenges.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
UGANDA! Uganda is a beautiful landlocked country located in East Africa surrounded by the second largest lake “Lake Victoria''. This place became my home country for my whole life (about 15 years) as it has a very special place in my heart, and I always fall in love with it.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, I mobilized all my personal savings amount and some which was gifted and contributed it to the UWEC animals as they were not getting steady income. I presented a collage of photos to the President H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and he was really proud of my efforts and love towards animals. Another proud moment was recently, on the 1st of June 2023, I was a winner in the ambassador for a day competition and I shadowed as the Sweden ambassador for a day.
3) What inspires you?
Happiness, self-motivation, and success inspires me. My definition of happiness is to enjoy the living moment and to be grateful for what you have. While self-motivation keeps driving me forward and helps me to find myself. Success inspires me to never give up, work hard and push yourself until the end.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
My biggest obstacle in my career was the transition between my old school (igcse-curriculum) to my new school (cbse-curriculum). This was very difficult for me as in my new school they taught me about Indian history, civics, and economics which I have never learnt before.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My mother has always been the biggest influence and inspiration in my life. She makes all my problems be solved and helps me get through all my obstacles. She gives the best advice and guides me on my career. My mother is always there for me even though I make mistakes in my choices. I adore her so much in everything she does, and she is the best person ever!
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
The best aspect of being a student is the memories you make at school with your friends, teachers and even your parents. I strongly believe that the student life is the best part of an individual's life as when you keep getting older, more work and responsibilities are given to you. But for a student is to just focus on their education and have the best times of their lives with friends and families.
7) And the worst?
The worst aspect of being a student is the pressure you get either from your parents or teachers to work harder and get the best scores in your class. Also, sometimes you might have to sacrifice and focus on more important things. Things might get harder as it can be difficult to balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities, your personal life, and some students (like me) are preparing for universities, all at once.
8) What are your long-term goals?
My long-term goal is to become a doctor. But I haven't decided yet which type of doctor I want to become. This year, I am really liking veterinary sciences as I am an animal lover and also, I am a bit into cancer research because it seems fascinating to me as there is no cure for it and I really want to research and know more about cancer.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
If I were Prime Minister, one aspect I would change is that corruption of any manner will be dealt with in the strictest way and severe penalties will be awarded to dishonest individuals. This is because the more corruption, the more it weakens the democracy and the economy of my country.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
If I were marooned on a desert island, I would love to spend my time with Polish-French physicist Marie Curie. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Marie Curie is remembered for her discovery of radium and polonium, and her huge contribution to finding treatments for cancer. I would love to spend my time with her because she would stimulate my brain with new discoveries, and she also inspires me to become an oncologist in the future.
