Student-ish

Aashna Takhtani

Hey, I’m Aashna, and I started Student-ish because being a student is hard—but being a student of life is even harder 😅. This podcast is a space for honest conversations, messy growth, and figuring things out in real time. From burnout to ambition, identity to friendships, school, career, we cover the lessons no one puts in a textbook, but everyone ends up needing. Some episodes are just me; some feature people who inspire me. All of it? From the heart. If you’re figuring it out, feeling the pressure, or just want a place to breathe, you’re in the right place. Welcome to Student-ish. 💕

  1. 02/03/2025

    I got into an IVY League (and YOU CAN TOO!): Insider tips ft. Anushka Lakhani pt.2

    Welcome back to pt. 2! If you're struggling with university apps or figuring out the process or maybe you have no clue what you want to do and how you want to get there, this is the episode for you! In this episode we'll ask Anushka Lakhani (an incredibly intelligent UPenn grad): 1. What surprised you most about the application process for UPenn specifically? 2. What are some unique aspects of the UPenn campus culture or academic programs that students might not know about? 3.  UPenn has a variety of schools within it (Wharton, Engineering etc.). Did you have a specific program in mind when you applied? How did you demonstrate your genuine interest in the specific Ivy League school you applied to e.g Wharton in UPenn? 4.  Rejection from a top school can be tough. How did you manage the application process emotionally, and what advice would you give students facing rejection? 5.  How did your experience at UPenn prepare you for your current path (college, career etc.)? What advice do you have for current high school students about future goals? 6.  What APs did you take, if any and do you mind sharing the score? 7.  How did you pick what courses you wanted to take? 8.  What curriculum? 9.  Is it safe? 10.  How did you finalize where you wanted to study – what uni, location etc. We've been getting so many amazing responses for this kind of content so look out for more interviews and episodes like this! Thank you for tuning in and please don't forget to rate this episode (5 stars pls 😊so more students can find us!) To share your anonymous stories/topics/questions or even achievements (which we'd be more than happy to celebrate) message me on Spotify or DM me on: @aashnastalktime ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠

    37 min
  2. 01/13/2025

    I got into an IVY LEAGUE (AND YOU CAN TOO!) from a UPenn Grad: Insider Tips ft. Anushka Lakhani

    OMG! It has been 1 year since the podcast started and we've had so many incredible guests on so far and we wouldn't have come this far if it wasn't for you and your unlimited love and support! Thank you so much for being such an important part of our journey and now...to celebrate our 1st year anniversary we're trying something new! A LOT of you have asked for student-related content so if you're... Struggling with university applications? Worrying about your education? Don't know where or what you want to study? Freaking out about how you're going to get into the college of your dreams? Well fear no more because we've got the people from the big leagues (literally!). UPenn is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world as an IVY League college and today's guest is not only someone who got admitted into the University of Pennsylvania but also someone who got into NYU! In this episode Anushka Lakhani will answer the following questions: 1. What made you choose UPenn specifically? 2. Talk us through what the transfer process looks like and when's the latest for us to transfer? 3. What GPA and standardized test scores did you take, and which do you think are most important for getting into an Ivy League school? 4. Did you take any specific courses or academic challenges that stand out on your application? 5. How did you approach extracurricular activities in high school? Did you focus on depth or breadth, leadership, or specific interests? 6. What were some of the most challenging aspects of your Ivy League application process? 7. Looking back, what would you do differently in your application (if anything)? 8. Can you share some tips on how you think people can stand out through their essays? AND there's still so much more to discuss! So, stay tuned for part 2 and till then feel free to check out our previous episodes and thank you so much for listening in! ❤️ Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed the episode. Don't forget to rate us 5 stars please (so other students like yourself can find us more easily😊) To share your anonymous stories/topics/questions or even achievements (which we'd be more than happy to celebrate) message me on Spotify or DM me on: @aashnastalktime ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠

    38 min
  3. 10/07/2024

    Beating Death to Winning Gold: Olympic Gold-Medalist's UNBELIEVABLE ride to success ft. Mark Colbourne

    From being paralysed at the age of 40 to becoming a world champion and Paralympic Gold Medalist just 3 years later, Mark Colbourne talks us through having to start over, gaining clarity amidst constant confusion and how to take that clarity and reach heights that would’ve been deemed impossible. How to take a setback and turn it into glory. We ask the following questions: 1.If I pick the wrong subjects, or pursue a different career it feels like the end of the world. What do I do? 2. How do we as students seek that clarity? 3. Just gaining clarity doesn’t make you a champion, so how did you become a champion? Once I gain clarity, how can I become the best in that field? 4. When you’re feeling low, you feel like everything is impossible. What can I do when I’m feeling low?   And this World Champion went on to face the biggest challenge of his life when he found out that something had happened to his father. So to find out what he did next and HOW that changed his mindset forever, stay tuned for pt.2 coming out soon! Thank you for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed the episode. Don't forget to rate us 5 stars please (so other students like yourself can find us more easily😊) To share your anonymous stories/topics/questions or even achievements (which we'd be more than happy to celebrate) message me on Spotify or DM me on: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠

    35 min
  4. 08/04/2024

    The Boat That Rocked: Dealing w/ Anxiety, Low Self-Esteem and Perfectionism as a Radio, TV Presenter ft. Faris Al Raqqad

    Feeling anxious about going up on stage? Think that audition is going to end up as a rejection? Think you'll trip and fall in front of everyone while giving that performance? Today's incredible guest, Channel 4 Radio Host, TV Presenter DXB Today and Studio EXPO and Event Host of Comic Con, World Government Summit and Audi, Faris Al Raqqad has been there, done that. But TODAY he will be walking us through how he overcame these challenges and ignores those negative feelings. He'll answer the following: 1. Did you always know this path was for you, or were there moments of self-doubt? 2. You said that you suffered with severe anxiety and low self esteem when you were a kid, how did you deal with that? Did that ever impact you professionally, how? 3.  How did you shift your mindset from assuming the worst to assuming the best? 4.  Let's talk about challenges. How do you deal with situations that don't go as planned, even when you assume the best? 5.  Let's imagine a listener facing a big audition or presentation. What advice would you give them to silence the inner critic and embrace the power of positive assumption? 6. Were there any moments when assuming the best led to unexpected opportunities? 7. Have there ever been times when assuming the worst actually worked in your favor? Maybe a hilarious case of "over-preparedness"?   AND some hilarious stories about incidents on radio! Thank you for tuning in and don't forget to rate the podcast (5 stars please so more people can find it easily 😊) To share your anonymous stories message me on Spotify or DM me on: Instagram TikTok

    36 min

About

Hey, I’m Aashna, and I started Student-ish because being a student is hard—but being a student of life is even harder 😅. This podcast is a space for honest conversations, messy growth, and figuring things out in real time. From burnout to ambition, identity to friendships, school, career, we cover the lessons no one puts in a textbook, but everyone ends up needing. Some episodes are just me; some feature people who inspire me. All of it? From the heart. If you’re figuring it out, feeling the pressure, or just want a place to breathe, you’re in the right place. Welcome to Student-ish. 💕