Image courtesy of the Chandorkar family
Last week, we introduced you to young Mensa member Rucha Chandorkar and her brother Akhilesh, who are supporting Marie Curie’s big fundraising drive in Glasgow this September by compiling a “quiz to top all quizzes”.
The Glasgow Brain Game event is a significant night for the charity and the work they carry out in the city, and this year they are hoping to top the £150,000 raised in 2022.
Rucha, now aged 13, joined Mensa back in September 2021. We caught up with her to find out about her Mensa journey and what she values most about being a member.
Why did you decide to take the Mensa Supervised IQ Test?
I decided to take the Mensa test because my brother took it too when he was around my age, and I was curious to find out where I stood (and if I had a higher score than him!). I could see the benefits and opportunities I could access through this fantastic community, leading me to accept the invitation.
What do you value most about being a Mensa member?
Being a Mensa member is a truly gratifying opportunity and the thing I love most about it is the vast wealth of knowledge available through hundreds of SIGs and the Mensa magazines as well as the meetings which take place.
The Mensa magazines as well as the new email newsletters dive into so many different topics and questions – some of them just interesting, others that might even affect our future for years to come – and I love staying in the loop of what’s happening around the world.
Mensa has also helped me pursue my interests and explore different avenues, and aspects of our world. It has also challenged me through the different competitions.
What would you say to anyone feeling nervous about taking the IQ test?
The main thing I would say to people considering taking the test is just to go for it! It’s just a way to challenge and improve yourself. Even if you don’t make the cut, it’s okay because it’s still a fun and engaging experience that you should be proud of.
And to anyone who has yet to accept the invitation to join?
Joining Mensa is a great opportunity that I would recommend to anyone who can. There are so many things you can do and that are available to you that you might not normally get. Overall, I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to join this amazing organisation and would definitely recommend trying the Mensa test and seeing how you do.
