About Me | Jia Rastogi

Key Skills and Personal Attributes:

Over the years of working and involvement in extracurricular activities, I have strengthened many skills, such as my verbal and written communication skills, customer service and sales experience. I have learnt to use various tools effectively such as Google Suite, Google Business, Facebook Advertising, Instagram Advertising, Excel and Trello. Additionally, I have designed websites on Wix and Ontraport, and also have minimal skills on Python and Wordpress. In my transition to highschool in the 2019-20 summer holidays, I experimented with Autodesk Revit, by self-teaching myself through youtube and the help of my dad who has an Architect Degree to create the prototypes of four houses digitally. My experience with working in my family business has provided me with knowledge about Property Investing, Website Creation and Digital Marketing.

Education:

I began my primary school education a year early as a 4 year old in Epping Heights Public School. During this time, I also studied at Epping Pre-Uni New College from Year 3 to Year 6 to help prepare me for the selective test in Year 6. By achieving high results, I was able to get into my dream highschool: NBSC Manly Selective Campus, which I still attend and enjoy.

Employment History:

As someone who loves designing, I helped out my parents when they first founded Get RARE Properties in June 2020, to create a professional website for the business. Get RARE Properties is a buyer’s agent that focuses on the buyer’s long term strategy and their education, to ensure they take the right step towards their Financial Freedom. Over the years, I have improved the design elements, practicality and SEO of the website. Additionally, I worked to create Facebook Ads, providing me with a background in Marketing. I also help out at the stall we have at the Annual Australian Property Expo, that takes place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. From designing posters and banners to helping setting up to talking to people and promoting our free educational resources, I have learned customer service and sales skills.

After a tough 2 years for everyone during the COVID pandemic, it has become even more crucial to express your love for the people you truly care about. This is why my sister, Myra Rastogi, and I founded a business on the 21st of November 2021, Gift Hampers For You, to help others spread their love. We believe gift hampers are the perfect way to show your loved ones you care, whether they are friends, family, clients and acquaintances. Not only can the hampers be personalised, but also they are ideal for all occasions, celebrating the many joys of life. Starting this business has taught me sales skills, customer service and accounting skills.

Current Subjects:

For the HSC, I have chosen the following subjects: Business Studies, Economics, Software Engineering, Maths Extension 1, English Advanced andPhotography and Visual Design. I’m excited to learn about these subjects, as it will develop my business mindset and my designing skills.

Volunteer Placements:

I highly believe in giving back to the community and volunteering to do so. For my school community, I consistently help design, manage and create the Pines Yearbook since Year 8. I also helped welcome new students into the school by being involved in the Peer Support Leader program and assisting with orientation. I also participated in the Laps For Life Fundraiser in 2021 and 2022 to raise approximately $1,500 for young people struggling with their mental health.

Achievements:

Since primary school, I have always loved pushing myself to try new things:

To improve my grammar and writing skills, I participated in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge, and by completing the challenge 4 years in a row (2013 - 2017), I received the Gold Award.
Strengthening my public speaking skills, I took Drama classes in 2017, which helped me open up in front of larger audiences.
As a fun pastime that also provided a life skill of self defence, I learned Kenpo 5.0, and within 2 years (2018-2019), I earned myself an Advanced Purple Belt.
In 2019, I boosted my Robotics Skills, which allowed me to work as a group to receive a Gold Prize in the International Youth Robot Competition.
Slightly disrupted with the COVID pandemic, I participated in my School Musical of ‘Legally Blonde’ in 2020, which was a great performance opportunity.
During my free time in 2021, I completed a Udemy course on ‘Excel Skills for Business: Essentials’, teaching me how to use Excel effectively and efficiently.
Within a group of 8 of my friends, we completed the Write a Book in a Day challenge in 2021, improving my writing and teamwork skills.
To help strengthen my knowledge about Digital Marketing, I completed multiple Udemy Courses in 2021.
As a life skill, I completed a course about First Aid Mental Health in 2023.
Always wanting to pick up an instrument, I began learning the Flute in the School Band in Year 7, allowing me to represent my highschool in various musical competitions.
Duke Of Edinburgh is an award received once completing a certain amount of hours in three sections: Sport, Volunteering, Learning a Skill and completing an Adventurous Journey. In 2022, I completed the Bronze Award, and am now in the process of completing the Silver Award.

Sporting Achievements:

To learn team skills and boost my friendships, I played quite a few sports as a child, which I still continue to do. I tried out Tennis for 2 years around the age of 8 years old, and later picked it up for a year when I was in year 7. I also do swimming training 2 times a week, as I believe it is a life skill, especially living this close to the beach. I have also gotten the opportunity to represent both my schools in Zone Swimming since year 6. Using my swimming skills, I attended Nippers in Balmoral from 9 years of age to 13 years old, which allowed me to receive my Bronze Star and Bronze Medallion. In 2021, I moved to Freshwater Beach, where I got my Surf Rescue Certificate, allowing me to patrol on the beach. This is my way of using my Life Saving skills to give back to the community. Additionally, a team sport that I enjoy and love since 2016 is Netball, which has provided me with opportunities to represent my school (U15 Knockout Netball Team (2020 - 2023) and the Opens Knockout Netball Team (2023)). Volunteering since 2020, I also umpire junior games during the Netball Winter Season.