Do you ever find yourself endlessly scrolling on Instagram Reels?

Someone you may have recently seen on your feed is Penn State’s very own Shamak Agarwal. Known for his “Day In The Life of Indian Students in the US” series, Agarwal gained over 5.3 million views and counting in the last 16 days. But his achievements go far beyond your Instagram feed.

Agarwal, a third-semester international student from Surat, India, grew up with a passion for sketching. He started drawing in the second grade and attended his first-ever art exhibition with his mother, Pallavi, two years later. Agarwal sold his first-ever painting at this exhibition, and with the support of his mother, never turned back.

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A post shared by Shamak Vikash Agarwal (@shamak_agarwal)

Amassing seven records in the field of fine arts and being named the “Best Sketching Artist in India” wasn’t enough, as Agarwal went on to set the world record for creating a graphite sketch in less than 30 minutes. Agarwal holds this title in the “World Book of Records London,” with his name put into the “International Book of Records” and “Records of India.” Shamak also won the Best Sketching Artist of the Year Award.

Throughout Agarwal’s journey, his mother has been his biggest supporter.

“Small things, big things, whatever, I keep my mom first,” Agarwal said.

From the moment he picked up a pencil to his multiple records, Agarwal’s mother has always been by his side through it all. She constantly encourages Agarwal to break boundaries and believe in himself, even when others doubt him.

Agarwal expressed that teachers often asked to not teach him in class when he was younger and that he was “a naughty kid at that point.” His mother then decided to enroll him in art and dance classes, where she supported him along the whole way.

In 2021, Agarwal received the “Bal Ratna” award, which recognizes Indian artists under the age of 18 for their outstanding achievements.

One of Agarwal’s proudest moments to date was when he received an honorary doctorate in the Faculty of Arts from the prestigious Delhi University at 16, making him the world’s youngest honorary doctorate in fine arts.

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A post shared by Shamak Vikash Agarwal (@shamak_agarwal)

Although Agarwal always had a passion for the arts, his family is in the business industry. His father, Vikas, owns one of India’s most successful electronic supply companies, selling products to stores in India like Best Buy.

Agarwal helped run this company back home in India, and he played a major role in scaling the family business from $100,000 to $1,000,000 annually in four months.

“That’s the reason I came here — to study computer science,” Agarwal said.

Agarwal received acceptance letters from top universities in California, including UC San Diego, UC Irvine, and UC Davis, but found a home in State College, Pennsylvania.

Adjusting to the American lifestyle and moving 8,000 miles across the world did come with some challenges for Agarwal. The hardest part of moving away from home is being separated from his mother, who still calls him on a daily basis to check in. Making the leap from India to America was challenging but rewarding for Agarwal.

Since arriving at Penn State last spring, Agarwal has gotten involved around campus by exploring and embracing new, exciting opportunities. He’s a member of the NextGen Leadership Academy, Penn State’s program that helps students explore public service careers, while also serving as the secretary of Penn State’s first public speaking club.

If you’re lucky, you may find Agarwal in Findlay Commons behind the desk grabbing your package or handing you a temporary room key.

Agarwal started sharing content on his Instagram account, shamakinusa, earlier in February. He posts day-in-the-life videos, which usually consist of an early-morning workout, heading to campus, classes for the day, his midterm prep and study routine, and then finally returning back home.

This series has captured the attention of thousands within the Penn State community, creating a new campus celebrity. Agarwal has gained over 16,500 followers this month alone and has already collaborated with Penn State influencer Megan Million and PSU Barstool.

His most viral video was posted on February 13 and has reached a whopping 1.6 million views while racking up over 88,000 likes so far.

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A post shared by Shamak Agarwal (@shamakinusa)

Blowing up on social media was never even a thought in Agarwal’s mind as it was a complete surprise to him. He recognizes that his life has changed tremendously over the last month.

“A lot of people are noticing me,” he said. “People are judging me. People just talk about me.”

Even taking the bus has become a different experience for Agarwal recently.

“I was on the bus when I was coming here. I can hear them. I have ears. They are like, ‘I think that’s Shamak.’ That’s the different thing which I’ve noticed,” he said.

Last weekend, Agarwal had a surprising encounter with a fan.

“There was one girl who literally almost kissed me, and I was not ready for it at that point,” he shared.

Another fan started screaming “Shamak! Shamak! Shamak!” when he saw Agarwal.

The attention is something Agarwal is still adjusting to, but there’s no question he’ll take a picture with you if you spot him on campus. Over the weekend during THON, community members were shouting, dancing, and taking pictures of Argawal.

“I literally took more than thousands of pictures,” he said.

You may be under the impression that Agarwal is cashing out on his recent success online. But it’s not about the money. He simply wants to share his college experience at Penn State with the world. Due to Agarwal’s current F1 student visa conditions in the United States, earning any passive income is not allowed.

With Agarwal on the rise, be sure to look out for future collaborations with other Penn State influencers and student networks.