It was just minutes before the Pre-University second-year results were going to be announced. Just as every other twelfth grader, Aishwarya Nandakumar had shivers down her spine. She knew she would do well because she spent over six hours every day studying, but a little exam result nervousness is just normal for every human being. The clock kept ticking and she sat there in anxiety, waiting. Each minute seemed like an hour and it was finally 11 am. She rushed to check her results and that moment was just life-changing for her. A whopping 91 per cent — but that was not it. Yes! She topped her class. Aishwarya is the classic living-breathing example of the phrase 'hard work pays off'.
When asked about her study schedule for her board exams she explains, "I study six hours every day. Post-school hours and home chores I study from 8 pm to 11 pm and then I wake up at 4 am the next morning and study till 7 am." Not just that. While most of us stick to leisure during our summer holidays, Aishwarya prefers preparing for the competitive exam for all those who want to pursue medicine. "I love my holidays and I love just watching cartoons on TV but this year I prefer taking mock exams and working on worksheets in preparation for The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). No leisure for me. I want to pursue medicine, I have always wanted to. I want to be able to provide for the society affordable services and believe me there is a lack of affordable services these days," she says. "One man who keeps me focused on my dream and pushes me to work hard every day is my dad. The very sight of him reminds me that I need to be out there helping people who in need just like my dad is. That is what keeps me focused and that is what keeps me going," she adds, confident and determined to succeed.
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Aishwarya is a student at Christel House in Bengaluru, Aishwarya says that she owes all her success to the school and her teachers, "I am grateful to my school for investing in my dreams. My teachers have toiled tirelessly to make sure that we were well prepared for this examination. I am very happy with my results and this is a dream come true for me." After a mild pause, she goes on, "If not for my school and teachers I would not have had the courage to pursue and continue my studies because of my situation at home. Education is a basic necessity for every individual regardless of their social backgrounds and only Christel House took the plunge to invest in my life and make me what I am today. Not just education, they helped other basic necessities like food and transportation as well and that has made a huge difference to me"
Why did a girl who topped her class in the PU exam just say she may not have continued her studies you ask? In a brave tone, she answers, "I don't come from a well-off family, my mother works at a garments factory and I have a father who has been unwell for a long time now. Most days I have had to take care of my dad to the doctor when mom was not around. When I go home every evening I immediately have to start helping mom with all the household chores. We get done with the chores by around 8 pm. We also cater to my father's needs." But that was not a situation that stopped Aishwarya from nailing her board exams. Well, all I can say is she studied and she conquered!
