A globally licensed profession counsellor from the University of California (UCLA) and Univariety, Hyderabad, Padmavathi Devarakonda is the one skilled from Telangana to be recognised by the International Career Counsellor’s Club. She has carved a distinct segment for herself within the subject, bridging the hole between sporting excellence and academic alternatives on a world scale.
Padmavathi’s journey into profession counselling may appear unconventional at first look. Armed with a background in Masters and Research in English, one would possibly count on her to pursue a extra conventional path. However, her story took a flip when her daughter launched into her tutorial journey within the USA. At 52, Padmavathi discovered herself reigniting her profession, pushed by a long-held want to delve into profession counselling. Now, with six years of expertise, Padmavathi’s focus stays steadfastly on sports activities, significantly tennis.
Her intensive travels over the previous 20 years have enriched her private experiences and influenced her method to counselling. “I have had the opportunity to experience different cultures and parenting styles,” says Padmavathi. Specialising in sports activities counselling was a pure development when she accompanied her daughter on the tennis circuit. “I noticed a glaring lack of awareness regarding sports scholarships available in US universities, particularly for tennis players.” Determined to fill this hole, she established Aca Sports Counselling in 2017, a enterprise to information student-athletes in the direction of tutorial and sporting success overseas.
Catch them younger
Padmavathi emphasises the significance of early intervention, recommending profession counselling as early because the eighth grade. She believes in nurturing a steady dialogue with college students, whether or not they’re pursuing lecturers or balancing sports activities alongside their research.
Despite rising consciousness in city areas, Padmavathi notes a persistent lack of know-how relating to worldwide sports activities scholarships in rural areas. Her mission extends past merely facilitating admissions; she strives to empower college students with complete steerage, making certain they meet the tutorial and athletic standards demanded by prestigious universities.
Aca Sports agenda
Padmavathi prioritises establishments that worth tutorial excellence and athletic prowess when deciding on schools and universities. Her meticulous method includes assessing college students’ tutorial information, standardised take a look at scores, extracurricular achievements, and personalised steerage by psychometric exams and profile-building actions.
Padmavathi discusses psychometric exams’ advantages: “The test helps guide the students as it measures their interests, personality, and abilities (numerical, communication, abstract). It also shows their strengths and weaknesses so that we can work in the right direction.”
Navigating the admissions course of might be daunting, with particular deadlines and timelines. Padmavathi advises college students to begin early, significantly for athletes whose recruitment course of typically begins a 12 months prematurely.
Once admitted, Padmavathi emphasises the necessity to stability sports activities and lecturers. She underscores the significance of self-discipline, punctuality, and moral conduct, reminding college students of their tasks on and off the sphere. Her recommendation: “Maintain the required GPA, be punctual, avoid distractions during practice sessions, and stay away from drugs and plagiarism.”
Focus on health
On the interconnectedness of health, efficiency, and diet in an athlete’s routine, Padmavathi stresses the significance of sustaining self-discipline not solely in coaching but in addition in meals habits and sleep patterns to optimise efficiency. While she acknowledges that coaching in fitness center is probably not compulsory, she highlights the importance of a licensed coach in making certain efficient coaching strategies and strategies.
Padmavathi acknowledges that accidents or efficiency setbacks pose substantial hurdles for athletes. These setbacks not solely convey bodily ache but in addition induce emotional misery and emotions of helplessness. However, she emphasises the significance of confronting these challenges head-on, viewing them as alternatives for progress somewhat than insurmountable obstacles.