By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Hyderabad: The modest house of Mohammed Samad in Murtazaguda area of Rangareddy district has been flooded with people visiting him to congratulate the feat achieved by her elder daughter Tasleem Fatima for the past one week. And for good reason too.
In the recently declared first year Intermediate Public Examinations (IPE) results, 17-year-old Tasleem grabbed the third rank in Telangana and first in Rangareddy district. Studying Commerce, Economics, and Civics (C.E.C) from Challenger Junior College in Moinabad, she secured 97.6% in her IPE exam bringing pride to her family and faculty at the school.
But the path towards securing such high marks has not been easy for Tasleem. Her father, Mohammed Samad is a farmer and owns a small piece of land which sustains the whole family. Since her childhood, Tasleem has been aiming to bring her family out of poverty.
“She was very dedicated towards studies and we supported her with whatever means we can.Even though I am uneducated, I knew that she was up to something big,” says her father Samad.
But after finishing her SSC from a local school in Murtazaguda, the girl was caught in a dilemma as which career option to choose. She wanted to opt for the medical stream so that she could fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, but the financial condition of her family made her rethink over her decision and choose less expensive career option.
“Even if I cleared the medical exam, I had to pay lakhs of rupees, which my father couldn’t afford. He knows how hard it is to pay even my monthly school fees,” says Tasleem.
She enrolled in C.E.C stream in Challenger Junior College run by Hyderabad-based Sahayata Trust and shifted her aim from becoming a doctor to becoming a CA after finishing her Class 12.
“Coming to this school changed everything for me. I started getting proper attention and we were only allowed to leave school after all our concepts were cleared by the teachers and see, it lead me among the toppers,” says confident Tasleem.
According to her school principal Shagufta Parveen, who counseled her when she came for admission, “She was very interested in medicine, but she knew that her family couldn’t financially support her. But she was very positive and wanted to do something big in her life. After enrolling in CEC, she went all out after the course materials. The credit also goes to her parents who supported her in every aspect.”
On Saturday, April 22, the Challenger Junior College facilitated Tasleem by giving a cash prize of Rs 5,000 and waived 90% of her school fee.
“When people recognize your hard work, it motivates you and lets you work harder towards your goals, ” said Tasleem.
The school principal has decided to arrange CA coaching for Tasleem in the school itself. “We are in touch with various schools which provide CA coaching and we are getting study materials. We will support Tasleem fully to help her realise her dream,” said Parveen.