Shail Suman Silwal is currently working as an editor and News presenter at Nepal television.
Questions?
- What are you most passionate about professionally? Personally?
I am really passionate about public speaking. Although the setting might differ as I cannot talk to people directly, my profession has supported my passion as people do hear me and see me via TV. - What would you do even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
I would carry out social service even if I wouldn’t get paid for it. I believe that’s the reason it is called service. - What are you surprisingly good at?
Public speaking is my strength as at many times I speak better than my own expectation. - Can you share some of your life remembering moments?
The day I was launched in Nepal Television is the day worth remembering as my hard work had finally taken some shape. - How long have you been working in your field?
Although I had started working since I was sixteen but it’s just been 1 and a half year that I have joined media. - How does your education connect to your professional career? What about personal experiences?
I studied New Journalism and media studies in University of Washington which helped me to harness reporting skills, news writing skills and helped me understand how media houses work. Those experiences didn’t only make my knowledge richer but made me feel better too. - Did you accidently join this career or you choose from childhood?
I had made up my mind that would join media someday.Although it didn’t happen when I expected it wasn’t an accident either. - What are your goals for next 10 years?
My goal for next 10 years is to have established my own business continuing my involvement with media. - What was the biggest hurdle you faced when working for your career and how you overcame it?
The process of being selected and being launched in the screen itself was a hurdle. I was selected by the channel some 4 years back but later didn’t get a call. But 3 and half year later I got a call again asking if I were free for screen tests. After I passed the tests and went through internship, only then was I launched. After the selection the journey has been a smooth ride. I believepatience and hard work helped me. - Your biggest failure?
Wouldn’t term it as a failure but I couldn’t use my 1 year gap in between bachelors and master’s degree as constructively as I should have. - Whom do you give all the credit for your success?
Myself. No efforts will work until and unless you are determined yourself. - What things build you? what are the qualities that all should have to be successful in their career?
My confidence and go getter nature has helped me become what I am today. - What is the biggest dream you have?
My biggest dream would be to work for BBC London. - What’s your biggest accomplishment which you can tell us till now?
Although it might not be an accomplishment in economic terms but I consider the scarf movement I organized in 2015 as my biggest accomplishment. The movement was organized to pressurize the government to book the culprit who had thrown acid on a girl named SangitaMagar in Basantapur. Through that movement I came to know that I could pull off events as such that too alone without any external assistance. Through that very movement I was also able to pressurize the government as there was participation of more than 1000 people including social workers, celebrities, politicians gathering huge media attention. Another reason why I believe this was one of my biggest achievements is that with this very movement the victim got donations from all around the world for her treatment. - What you suggest to youths who want to join in similar career as you?
Media is a very challenging sector where you have to work day and nightand at times it might not pay you as per your expectations as well. Thus one should join media only if he/she has passion for it.