This story is from June 7, 2016

Girl gets 96% despite dad’s cancer, her ailment

Girl gets 96% despite dad’s cancer, her ailment
Nagpur: While scoring 96.40% is no easy task, for Saloni Pandey it was mission impossible. As her prelims were about to end, the St Ursula Girls High School student was recovering from a painful bout of kidney stone. Just as she mustered strength for the board exams starting from the first week of March, she got a devastating news. Her father Satish, a teacher with a city school, was diagnosed with oral cancer.
“My dad had taken an NCC batch for camp and he noticed a lump in his mouth. Upon returning, we decided to get it checked by a specialist and our worst fears came through when the doctor said that it was cancer,” said Saloni.
The next one month was harrowing for the 15-year-old who shuttled between the hospital, school and home. “There were total four surgeries done to take care of the problem completely. And now he has to undergo 30 sittings of radiation, one everyday. But I am happy that at least he is back at home and with me,” said Saloni. Saloni, an all-rounder and headgirl of her school, wants to become an IAS officer and contribute to society.
Overcoming all odds, Prajakta scores 70%Prajakta Ramteke (70%) Deaf and Dumb School, Shankar Nagar
Overcoming all the odds she was facing for the last two years, Prajakta Ramteke, a student of the Deaf and Dumb School, Shankar Nagar, passed the SSC board examination with flying colours. Though she had to skip the exam last year (2015) due to family problems, a determined Prajakta refused to be bogged down this year. Prajakta not just cleared the exam but also scored 70% and made her schoolteachers and the family proud.
Brought up by mother after her father’s demise, Prajakta had her task cut out. She prepared for the examination throughout the year with regular studies. Prajakta also received equal support from her teachers and principal who convinced her mother to let the bright girl appear for the Std X exam. The teachers also ensured that Prajakta gets all the help that was required and prepared her to face the board exam. Prajakta too did not disappoint her mentors, mother and schoolmates. She not just excelled in the board exam, but also set an example of what a student with grit and determination can achieve.

Blind by birth, Rushikesh shows the light
Rushikesh Adhao (80%), Kurvey’s New Model High School
Hard work and devotion always lead to success. Meet Rushikesh Adhao who not just scored 80% in the Std X board exam but also emerged as second topper among all students from his school — Kurvey’s New Model High School and Junior College. Not hiding behind his disability, 18-year-old Rushikesh, blind by birth, used CD, cassettes, books etc. to prepare for the exam. Rushikesh was also supported by the teachers who ensured that he is well-prepared to face the challenge.
A native of Ubalkheda village in Buldhana district, Rushikesh’s family consists of 2 siblings and his parents (Anil and Rekha), who are farm labourers. Rushikesh’s father was initially worried about his son’s future. “However, after seeing Rushikesh’s dedication and zeal to study, I decided to send him to a school for special students at Buldhana. Rushikesh studied there from Std I to VII and later at Nagpur,” Anil said.
“My friends helped me a lot. They gave me strength during the exams and motivated me. Also, I did not take any tuitions. I owe my success to the efforts that my teachers put in. I want to fulfil my father’s dream and become self-reliant,” said Rushikesh, who aspires to pursue civil services as career.
Witness to mother’s sacrifices, Piyush tops in school
Piyush Kalabande (83%), Kurvey’s New Model High School
Not letting his dreams die due to adverse circumstances his family was going through, Piyush Kalabande, a student of Kurvey’s New Model High School, emerged as a school topper by scoring 83% marks in the SSC exam. Not only the score but what makes Piyush stand out of the crowd is his will to overcome all the hurdles.
The 15-year-old’s father Babarao was crippled after he suffered spinal injury in an accident in 2007. Since then, it was his mother Sarita who was the sole bread winner. She worked as a housekeeper to keep her family surviving. A witness to his mother’s sacrifices, Piyush started working at a consultancy so that he too can support the family. “When I grow up, I want to be a banker,” says the topper.
His very proud father Babarao says, “He understands the situation and adjusts accordingly. Piyush never cribs about anything and always tries to help everyone in the house. He is a smart kid.” Piyush thanks ‘maa’ and ‘baba’ for his success. Piyush plans to pursue commerce so as to achieve his goal to be a successful banker and says, “I will do everything possible to make my family happy.”
Pradhny, daughter of pan shop owner, scores 91%
Pradhny Sarate (91%), Somalwar High School
For Pradhny Sarate, a student of Somalwar High School, securing 91% in her SCC exam was so emotional that tears started rolling down her cheeks. “Papa, bhai (younger brother) and I were at our uncle’s shop using Internet to check my results. As soon as we saw my result, everyone was so happy that it made me cry. Papa said, “Ab teri cycle pakki” (Now you’ll definitely get your cycle), ” says the 16-year-old. Her father, Laxman, runs a pan-shop and her mother, Anita, is homemaker. The Sarate couple has one son and three sisters including Pradhny. Being from an economically impaired section, it had no effect on her hard work and dedication. “No matter what happens, I am never going to leave studies. Papa wants me to get in the banking sector, so I will,” says Pradhny.
After Pradhny’s sister scored lesser than expected in her SSC exams, this teen decided to fulfil her sister’s dream too. Dedicating her success to father and family, Pradhny says, “I want to thank papa for his support.”
Living in one-room house with 5 members, Ankita scores 75.2%
Ankita Wankhede (75.2%), Kurvey’s New Model High School and Jr College
Living in a one-room house along with four other family members and scoring 75.2% marks in the SSC is no lesser achievement. Ankita Wankhede, a student of Kurvey’s New Model High School and Jr College, lives in a room on rent with her parents and two younger sisters. Her father, Ganesh Wankhede, is a labourer and mother, Nanda, is a domestic worker.
The 16-year-old Ankita said, “My house is only a room where all of us live together. In that room I and my sisters studied together. This used to distract my attention. Hence, we scheduled our study time in such a way that everyone of us was able to have uninterrupted time to study.”
“Today we face a lot of financial problems. If I am lucky and get some work for the day, I earn around Rs 200, otherwise nothing. Despite this, I am trying to do whatever I can for my family. I am happy that my daughter has scored well and my hard work is paying,” said Ankita’s father Ganesh. Her mother Nanda said, “This is just the beginning and there is a lot more for my daughter to achieve. I have complete faith in my daughter and it pushes me to work hard so as to help them succeed. These are not just marks but the evidence of our efforts.”
“I want to thank my parents, teachers, siblings and friends who were there to help me. They took all the pain for me,” she added.
ZP school student Megha secures 87%
Her story is one of grit and determination. City girl Megha Pinky Singh, who spent her life in an orphanage along with her parents, not just cleared the SSC exam but also scored 87% marks.
Incidentally, Pinky, Megha’s mother, herself an orphan, has been staying at the orphanage for the last 27 years. At the orphanage, Pinky met Rajendra and married him and thus the couple was blessed with Megha.
“Studying is never difficult if you have patience and perseverance,” Megha claims. Her father is a driver and her mother is engaged in house cleaning job. I always knew from the start what to do next. Hence, it was all planned. “I found Maths a bit difficult. However, studying regularly coupled with a little help from mentor at the orphanage helped me score well”, Megha said. She has high dreams for the future. “I wish to pursue medical science and become a doctor,” said Megha, who was a student at a ZP school on the outskirts of the city. “Despite all odds, I kept myself focused all the time on studies, Megha said.
Inmate of an orphanage, Chakuli excels with 64%
Coming from an orphanage, Chakuli has braved all odds to set a precedent for others. At an age when most children look up to support from their family members, this girl has done exceptionally well in her board exams and scored 64% marks. Deprived of the family bonding, care and even guidance, Chakuli decided that she would not beg for a living or live life under constant fear of getting neglected. The life has already taught her a precious lesson and she has decided to become self-dependant. She says, “I was particularly scared of Maths, for which I took extra caution. However, I made sure that I gave equal attention to all other subjects.’ She studied 3-4 hours daily.
Son of a vegetable vendor, Ayush scales 97.4% marks
Ayush Rokde (97.4%) , Hadas High School
For some, adverse situations are opportunities to carve their road to success. Meet Ayush Rokde, son of a vegetable vendor at Subhash Nagar and a student of Hadas High School, who 97.4% marks in the SSC exam. Ayush never let his family background define his capabilities.
This multitalented boy worked hard day and night to be able to materialize his dreams. “I used to monthly revision technique for the lessons that teachers taught me in school. I learnt drawing and sketching too,” he said. Ayush also loves swimming in his free time. “In the evening, I attended tabla and harmonium classes as I always loved music. I never liked to sit idle and thus, I made sure that my time is utilized properly,” he said.
Ayush said that he is happy he could do justice to all the hard work of his father in supporting his education. “My father never let me work with him and insisted that I study at home,” he said when asked if he helped his father in selling vegetables.
Ayush’s story is not just inspiring but also truly unique. Even under bad circumstances, he never gave up hope and dared to dream big. In an essay writing competition about road safety — ‘Rashtra suraksha abhiyan’ — Ayush was awarded by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. “I needed to go long distance on cycle to attend tabla classes, but the love for music never let it feel troublesome. Whatever pains I took was always worth the effort,” he said.
Financially, the Rokdes couldn’t have afforded to send Ayush to tuition classes and he wouldn’t have been able to pursue his hobbies. But Ayush’s undying passion made his tutors believe in his talent and they helped him to learn without asking for much remuneration in return. When asked how he managed to balance his studies and extra-curricular activities, Ayush said, “They used to call me an all-rounder in school. I never let any one thing overpower the other and understood the importance of maintaining the balance between both. Since I did not have any extra coaching or tuition classes, I also took out time for self-study after doing all the other activities,” he said.
Ayush talked about his future plans saying, “I want to become an IAS officer. With the right attitude and guidance, I know that I can fulfil this dream too.”
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