Vani Tandon

“How do you know everything at 18 but nothing at 20?” That line stayed with me and maybe even shaped how I approached school, college, and everything in between. In school, I was the kind of student whose marks were always in place the one with perfect scores and her nose buried in novels. Somewhere along the way, I picked up French, which sparked a deep interest in cultures, communication, and the liberal arts. It helped me see the world beyond textbooks and fall in love with how people and ideas connect. Then came the lockdown----uncertain, isolating, and strange. But for me, it was also a turning point. While most were adjusting to online classes, I took up my first internship at a startup agency, writing research-based content and gaining real-world experience long before most of my peers had even heard of internships. It was a small team, a big learning curve, and the first time I saw how ideas become deliverables. I also developed a love for psychology, and chose Commerce with Psychology after 10th, trying to balance passion with practicality. By Class 12, I didn’t just want to participate anymore, I wanted to lead. As USG International Press for my school MUN, I also built the school newsletter from scratch. It gave me the space to think, write, coordinate, and take ownership start to finish. College took things a step further. In my very first semester, I walked into an interview for my college commerce society and walked out with something far bigger: an internship under the Delhi University Vice Chancellor and the DU Foundation. That one conversation opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Over the next few months, I worked closely with professors, met DU alumni, and saw academia from the inside, a kind of learning no textbook could offer. By second year, I was promoted within the society to lead social media and offline coverage. From brainstorming content to driving offline engagement, I helped turn the page into one of the most active and relevant platforms on campus during my tenure. Amidst all this, the psychology student in me never faded. That’s what drew me to Human Resources, the space where everything I love intersects: understanding people, building culture, and creating meaningful systems. Since then, I have taken on internships in HR, where I have learned the value of empathy, strategy, and showing up not just as a student, but as a professional. I still don’t know everything — but I know I love learning, creating, and connecting the dots. And for now, that’s a good place to begin.