Khushi Valecha, 16, had to go through the toughest of times when she was appearing for the ICSE class 10 exams this year. Her father, Mukesh Valecha, a Lucknow-based businessman, passed away after a heart attack on March 13.
Despite the massive setback, she managed to put herself together and cleared the exams with a decent 78.4%.
“Papa passed away in the middle of my board exams. My next paper was physics on March 17. It was a very difficult time. I was completely distraught and had little idea what to do. It was my heartbroken mother Namrata and other family members who stood by me and convinced me that I must continue taking the exam,” Khushi shared.
“It was the most horrifying moment of my life. I was crying inconsolably and was in no state to give the paper,” Khushi, a student of City Montessori School, Kanpur Road branch, said.
As inconsolable as she was trying to imagine living in a world without her father, she said, “Many people came to our house after papa’s death. So, I used to go to my neighbour’s house to study.”
Khushi wants to become a chartered accountant.
{{/usCountry}}Khushi wants to become a chartered accountant.
{{/usCountry}}Similar is the story of Sharad Singh, a student of CMS-Rajajipuram, who lost both his parents on October 4 last year. Even after braving through depression and anxiety, and with supportive relatives, he managed to clear the Indian School Certificate (ISC) exam (class 12 final exams) with over 96%.
“I stayed with my aunt for several months. My younger brother is in class 8,” said Sharad, who now wants to pursue engineering.
Khushi with her dad