Inspiration
Tales of courage and determination from the SSC exams this year
Not all toppers or good scorers at SSC have a golden story. Here is looking at some tales of extraordinary courage who not only overcame adversary but also conquered SSC exams this year.
Doing the balancing act
It’s been over a year now that Hiren Mistry, 15, has been waking up at 5am. This student from Virar's MMN Dugad Gujarati High School was not spoiling his sleep to put in extra hours for the fast approaching all-important board exams but to deliver newspapers in the neighbourhood. Along with studies, he took up the odd job to contribute to the family income and look after his own minor expenses. His hard work paid off when he passed with 90.6%, making his parents proud.
A resident of Dongarpada, Hiren would spend his monthly earnings of ₹ 1,000 on books. His father, Bharat Kumar, earns very little working as a tailor in the western suburb of Santacruz in Mumbai. His income is not sufficient to look after the needs of this family of five. His sister passed HSC this year and a brother completed his 3-year diploma programme. "My teachers and brother helped me in studies," said Hiren.
His score of 97 in science & technology, 95 in social sciences and 91 in mathematics helped him bag a high score. He intends to pursue science from Vartak College and later enter into the engineering specialisation. His brother, Sagar, who completed his diploma in computer engineering, is currently looking for a job. "My father does not have a fixed income. It's almost like a daily wage worker. There are days when he doesn't get paid at all,” laments Sagar.
15-year break doesn’t matter
Suchita Telvekar has proved that neither age nor a humungous 15-year gap should be a hurdle in getting education. Suchita, a student at Chandrakant Mhatre New Era Night School and a domestic help has scored 69.9% at the age of 30. Her ill and now deceased father often told her that education should be one's top priority. Suchita dreams of becoming a teacher and educate students from similar backgrounds. She decided to get back to studies after a 15-year break.
Being the second earning family member, after her aged mother, Suchita took up her responsibility seriously and juggled roles as a domestic help, sister and student. She said, "My brother finished his graduation but was unemployed. He took to drinking."
She is optimistic that that it is never too late to overcome their abject situation. The school said it was proud of her, recalling that she was an "enthusiastic and willing learner who would go far".
Fighting cancer
Niyati Thakkar, a student of J B Khot High School, Borivli, scored 76.80% that too while she was battling cancer tooth and nail. Thakkar was undergoing the very draining and debilitating chemotherapy till last November. "I studied a little throughout the year but was able to dedicate more time only after my treatment in December," Niyati said. Her school Principal Krishnambal Sureshbabu encouraged and helped her continue her studies smoothly. When Thakkar's exam centre was away from school, he contacted the board authorities to ensure that she appeared for her exams comfortably in an AC classroom with a writer. Needless to say, the hero’s parents were supremely proud of her achievement and were grateful to the school for accommodating her.
Another brave girl, Vidhi Thakkar, from A S P Convent School, Ghansoli, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 but this did not dampen her spirits. She scored 67.40% and credits part of her success her parent’s efforts and school, especially her principal, Surekha Pisal. Vidhi explained, "It was very difficult to study when I was undergoing treatment. But I was interested in studies and did not wish to waste a year." Like most children her age who pass out of SSC, even Vidhi is confused about pursuing science, but one thing she is certain of is that she will continue studying.
From waiting tables to turning tables
Sunil Dangapur secured 88.8% working as a waiter in a restaurant in Versova during the day and attending Guru Narayan Night School in the evening. Now 18 years of age, Dangapur was forced to drop out of school and return to his village in Karnataka when he was in class VIII due to his family inability to live in the metropolis. After returning to Mumbai for a job, he enrolled in a night school.
Working from 9am-5pm daily and attending school after that leaves him with little or no time to do anything else. "I used to wake up at 4am to study before work. Although I would have liked to have had more time to study and play, it was difficult to manage with work," Dangapur said. He is undecided about which stream to pursue further however like all pass outs he is clear that he will continue to work while studying.
Students at this school are supported by Masoom, an NGO, which helps establish quality education in night schools.
Shining brighter than the blaze
The fire at Damu Nagar, Kandivli, last December was in the news for all the wrong reasons. The fire claimed 2, injured over a dozen people and left thousands homeless. However, even a calamity of this scale couldn’t hold back the students of Raj High School, to attend the exams and fare brilliantly.
Pooja Ghembhad, who scored 88.80% and topped the Marathi medium school, said she and her brother Krishna, braved the wrath of the fire and its devastating aftermath to begin life anew. Coping with the loss of life and house, preparing for their own exams, giving tuitions to others and keeping the morale of Damu Nagar high, tying up with NGOs to provide students notebooks and other study aids, this brother and sister duo pulled off the near impossible feat of passing with flying colours inspite of being surrounded by morass. She motivated students by keeping them focused on studying for the boards and streamlining academic abilities. Pooja plans to continue her association with NGOs and become a doctor.
The English medium school was topped by Prajakta Mistry who scored 85%. Prajakta confided that fortunately she wasn’t directly affected by the fire, however, the stress of her friends getting displaced and losing their belongings was quite demanding. Despite this, she braced herself for the exams and scored well, making her family and school proud. She plans to become an IT engineer.
Image used for representational purpose only