Some success stories are not built on privilege or perfect conditions but on courage, grit, and an unshakable belief in education. One such story is that of Adarsh Kumar, an 18-year-old from Champaran, Bihar, who has been named the only Indian finalist for the Global Student Prize 2025. Often described as the “Student Nobel Prize”, this award comes with a prize of ₹87 lakh ($100,000) and recognizes students making extraordinary impact worldwide.

Adarsh’s journey is remarkable not just because of where he is today but because of how far he has come — from a village with limited resources to global recognition.

Early Struggles in Champaran

Adarsh was born in Champaran, Bihar, a place remembered for Gandhi’s satyagraha but still struggling with poor infrastructure. His schooling began in a government school where classrooms had no benches, no toilets, and absent teachers. Later, when he joined a private school, financial difficulties grew heavier. His mother worked tirelessly, even scrubbing utensils, just to pay his school fees.

These experiences gave Adarsh an early lesson in inequality. He realized that while talent was everywhere, opportunities were not. That realization would one day shape his life’s mission.

A Bold Decision at 14

At just 14, Adarsh made a decision that would change his life. With only ₹1,000 and a second-hand laptop, he left home for Kota, hoping to join coaching classes. But the reality was harsh. He couldn’t even afford admission, and relatives who promised help turned him away.

For most teenagers, this rejection could have been the end of the road. For Adarsh, it was a turning point. He refused to let others’ limited expectations define his future. Instead, he decided to build his own path — one step at a time.

Learning from Failures

Adarsh started three different ventures in his teenage years. All of them failed. But instead of walking away, he embraced failure as his teacher.

“Failure was my first mentor,” he often says. “It showed me that passion alone is not enough. You need persistence, execution, and the courage to learn from mistakes.”

These lessons became the foundation of his social enterprise Skillzo, a platform that today empowers thousands of students across India.

Building Skills and Creating Opportunities

Through Skillzo, Adarsh has reached over 20,000 students across India. But for him, it is about more than just teaching skills — it’s about building belief.

Students are often told to memorize facts, but rarely encouraged to imagine or innovate. Skillzo changes that. It pairs learning with opportunities, allowing rural and small-town students to interact with global mentors and real-world challenges.

Whether it is a girl from Maharashtra coding with peers in California or a teenager from Assam pitching ideas to international experts, Skillzo sends a clear message: your ideas matter.

Grassroots Impact Before Going Global

Before Skillzo, Adarsh worked on several grassroots initiatives that proved his commitment to community development.

• Mission Badlao led to a government school opening, vaccination drives for 2,000+ people, menstrual pad distribution, and planting of 3,000 trees.
  
• IgniteBharat trained over 3,000 rural youth in entrepreneurship.
  
• Collaborations with IIT Guwahati and IIT Madras impacted 7,000+ students, bridging rural learners with world-class mentors.
  

These projects gave him the grounding to think beyond his village — to dream of solutions that could scale nationally and globally.

Scholarships and Global Recognition

Adarsh’s academic path is as inspiring as his entrepreneurial one. He earned a 100% scholarship for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Jayshree Periwal International School, Jaipur. In 2024, he became the first student to secure a ₹30 lakh full-ride scholarship at the same institution.

His leadership journey expanded globally:

• Selected as a Google Youth Advisor — one of the youngest voices shaping conversations on technology and policy.
  
• Winner of the Masters’ Union Startup Week.
  
• A fellow with Civics Unplugged and a full scholar at BITS Pilani’s Young Entrepreneurs Bootcamp.
  
• Mentor and judge at international competitions like LaunchX and the Conrad Challenge.
  

Each opportunity reinforced his belief that small-town students can compete — and win — on the global stage.

A Mother’s Pride

When Adarsh told his mother about being selected among the Top 10 finalists of the Global Student Prize, she was overwhelmed with pride. For her, the award wasn’t about prestige. It was about validation — proof that her sacrifices and Adarsh’s risks were worth it.

Her journey of struggle and his journey of resilience are deeply connected, making this recognition a shared victory.

Message for Small-Town Dreamers

As the only Indian finalist for 2025, Adarsh carries a powerful message:

“Geography does not define destiny. If you are told your dream is too big, remember — the problem is not your dream, it’s the limited imagination of others. You don’t have to shrink your dream to fit your hometown. You can expand the world to fit your dream.”

What’s Next for Adarsh Kumar

If he wins the Global Student Prize 2025, Adarsh plans to launch two ambitious projects:

• SkillzoX – an AI-powered mentorship platform designed for rural students, enabling them to learn directly from global experts.
  
• Ignite Fellowship – a global accelerator for young changemakers to test and grow their ideas in real time.
  

He also aims to create a documentary series to highlight young innovators from underserved communities, proving that brilliance is not confined to big cities.

Conclusion: A Teenager, Dreamer, and Builder

From a small village in Champaran to the global stage, Adarsh Kumar’s story is a shining example of how courage, resilience, and vision can overcome even the toughest barriers. Still just 18, he has already impacted thousands of lives, inspired countless others, and shown that even the toughest beginnings can lead to extraordinary futures.

Adarsh is not just a finalist for a global award — he is a symbol of what India’s youth can achieve when given the right support, opportunities, and belief.