A Confident Girl from a Small Village
I’m
here to continue my story. This part takes me back to when I was just 4 or 5
years old. Even at that young age, I remember being a confident child.
My First Day of School
When
I was around 5, my father decided to send me to school. At the same time, my
mother was pregnant with her third child—my younger brother. One of my favorite
memories from that time was coming home from school and holding my newborn
brother in my lap. I even took a day off from school when he was born. My
younger sister (who is three years younger than me) and I danced with joy when
we heard the news.
I
was sent to a small village school along with my cousins. I never threw
tantrums about going to school—it was always exciting for me. On my first day,
I entered a room with 30–40 kids from three different classes (1st, 2nd, and
3rd). There was no LKG or UKG in our village.
I
mistakenly sat in the 3rd class row, but the kids guided me to the 1st class
section. When the teacher entered, the room fell silent. I was the only one
excited—because he looked just like my mama (uncle). He noticed me and asked me
to come forward. I happily did. He asked for my notebook and started giving
homework. I was so thrilled that I gently pushed him and sat beside him on his
chair! He was surprised and politely told me that students aren’t supposed to
sit on the teacher’s chair. I immediately got up and followed his instructions.
๐ The Cow and the Coin
One
day, a teacher asked all students to memorize the English poem “The Cow.” The
next day, he began checking. He was known for beating students who didn’t
study, and everyone was terrified—including me. I hadn’t learned it either. But
when my turn came, I walked up to him with a nervous heart and said,
“Sir,
I couldn’t learn ‘The Cow,’ but I have a 2-rupee coin my grandfather gave me.
You can take it, but please don’t beat me.”
The
teacher burst into laughter. He was touched by my innocence and confidence—and
that day, he didn’t beat a single child.
๐ My First Result
When
results were announced, I was anxious. I thought I might fail. But the teacher
came in asking,
“Where
is that girl? Where is that girl?”
My
heart sank—I thought I had failed. But then he announced that I had secured 1st rank in the
class! I was shocked and overjoyed. I ran home, dancing and searching for my
mother. She was washing utensils. I told her, “Maa, I got 1st rank!” She
smiled, but didn’t show much excitement. She was living in a toxic environment
at her in-laws’ house, where even hugging or kissing her children would invite
taunts from others.
From
then on, I consistently ranked in the top 3. Studying became my escape and my
source of happiness.
๐ My Love for Learning
We
had only a black-and-white TV at home—no smartphones or gadgets. I wasn’t
allowed to play with neighborhood kids. After school, I helped my mother with
chores and studied in the evenings.
I
studied in a government school where English wasn’t taught well. Until 6th
grade, I struggled with it. But then I started learning on my own and became
the most confident English speaker in my high school. I participated in every
curricular activity and was always self-motivated.
I
was passionate about space.
In 5th and 6th grade, I borrowed science books from older students to read
about space. Math,
science, and English became my favorite subjects. Teachers
praised me and believed I would do something big in life.
They
took me to block and
district-level science quizzes, where I often ranked in the top
3. I brought home trophies and prizes, and those moments were magical.
๐ My Academic Achievements
I
studied in a Hindi-medium school until 10th grade. I scored 92% in my board exams,
with 100% in
mathematics. I received two scholarships—₹24,000 and
₹10,000—which were more than the total fees I had paid from 1st to 10th grade.
People
in my village were amazed. But despite all this, I had never learned computers
until 10th grade. Our school had only 2–3 computers, and we were taught only
how to start them and use MS Paint.
❄️
The Winter Before My Board Exams
In
10th grade, my school was 2 km away. I walked every day—even during my periods.
One winter, my mother had to go to her maternal home for a month. I woke up at 3 AM, studied,
cleaned the house, fed the cattle, cooked food, and walked to school. My
teacher was shocked when she learned about my routine.
During
exams, some students brought people to help them cheat. I refused to cheat—my
values were my priority. A day before my math exam, I was stung by an insect on
my lower lip. It was swollen and painful, but I still gave the exam—and scored 100%.
๐ The Power of Teachers
I’ve
always been lucky to have amazing teachers. They believed in me more than I
believed in myself. One teacher gave us free tuition, and because of him, I
cleared the National
Talent Search Exam and earned a scholarship.
My
dedication and passion for learning brought me success. I always shined.
๐ My Dream
My
dream was to go to Bangalore
for a degree in aeronautical
engineering and work with ISRO.
What
happened next? I’ll share that in the next part of my story.
๐ฌ Final Thoughts
If
you’ve read this far, thank you. I hope my story reminds you that no matter
where you come from, your dreams are valid. Your strength is real. And your
journey matters.
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