Under25, India’s leading youth media network, recently hosted another vibrant Summit at Campus (SAC) at the Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT), Bangalore. SAC is Under25’s signature youth festival, bringing workshops, conversations, and performances directly to college campuses throughout the year. The initiative encourages students to assume leadership roles, explore their potential, and transform classrooms into launchpads for creativity and community engagement.
One of the highlights of this edition was a session by popular influencer Rida Tharana, who captivated the audience with her stories, humor, and motivational insights. Transporting students back to her own college days, Rida shared anecdotes from her hometown, Coorg, and spoke candidly about her journey toward independence and self-discovery.
Growing up in a humble household, Rida learned to be independent at a very young age. She defied traditional expectations, including early marriage, by pursuing higher education. She emphasized the importance of integrating practical financial lessons—covering money management, loans, taxes, and investments—into the education system, particularly for women, noting that financial literacy is a cornerstone of true independence.
Rida also shared the challenges she faced in funding her studies. From distributing pamphlets to modeling gigs and call center jobs, she supported herself through various odd jobs. She even took an education loan of ₹3 lakh, despite initial hesitation from her parents. Her determination was tested further during the pandemic, when she turned frustration into opportunity by sharing the struggles women face on her social media. This raw and unfiltered storytelling resonated with audiences, helping her amass 1.5 million Instagram followers.
During the session, Rida offered practical financial tips and money-management hacks to the first-year engineering students. Beyond her talk, she actively engaged with the students through activities, watched and reacted to their creative reels, and even recreated a viral dance video with some of them. She also took a lighthearted detour to try BIT Bangalore canteen’s famous egg pops snack, adding fun to the interaction.
Reflecting on the experience, Rida said, “It has been a while since I stepped into a college, and it was a blast! The energy was palpable, and sharing my story with the students was such a super-cool experience.”
In true Under25 Summit at Campus spirit, Rida’s session blended inspiration, entertainment, and empowerment. Her honesty, humor, and real-life lessons left students motivated, uplifted, and ready to take charge of shaping youth culture.
