Here’s an inspiring story of Rushda, who made a wonderful journey from living in Mumbai slum to pursuing her MBBS degree on scholarship.
Belonging to Mumbai’s Govandi slum, an 18-year-old has shown the world that tough times don’t last forever but tough people do. Residing in a one-room kitchen house, Rushda recently cleared the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) to pursue her MBBS degree in a government-aided college
But this isn’t only Rushda’s win. It is a combined win of her family as well.
Her father, who is a mechanic, may have studied till Class 10 and her mother till Class 11, they made sure their kids get the best educational opportunity that they can afford. Unlike most of the girls her age whose education is stopped to get them married, Rushda was not asked to quit her studies. While sharing how unlike other girls of her age, Rushda was never asked to quit studies, her mother Shera Parveen mentioned:
“I want all my three children to become something in life and be financially independent. I don’t want them to suffer as we did because of a lack of education and money. My husband earns about Rs 25,000, which is just enough for us to survive. But we want our children to earn more so that they can improve their lifestyle and educate their children with ease,”
Rushda’s Unparallel Hard Work
While sharing details of her routine, Rushda shared:
“I would wake up at 5 am to study, as my college would start in the afternoon. After college, I would return home, freshen up, and get back to studying.
She further adds,
“I would study till about 2 am and then wake up at 5 am without anyone’s assistance.”
Rushda shares how she would take breaks only for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the entire day. Refusing to take a day’s break from her studies, she says,
“I don’t like to wait for that one day of break. This wait and excitement for ‘a break day’ hampers your studies. It is better to study everyday. Of course, I would take about a few hours of a break once in a while.”
Given her rigorous study routine, she went on to score 87% in her Class 12 board exams in 2019.
When asked how she managed to study hard in a room shared by everyone in the family, she reveals,
“All family members are supportive. Even my younger siblings are studious so we are studying most of the time. I would mostly spend most of my time in college studying. That is how I would manage my studies.”
Rushda wants to specialize in neurology. She says,
“Life gets easier if we are financially independent. Even after marriage, if both partners are earning, it avoids financial constraints. I want to build my own identity in life.”
Her mother further adds:
“Both my husband and I are less educated because parents were not financially strong, which was also because of lack of education. We don’t want our children, irrespective of sons, or daughters to suffer.”
The proud mother further adds,
“My sacrifices and Rushda’s hard work have now paid off. We are hopeful that Rushda will study hard and become a better doctor to serve society. As soon as her college starts, I will not let her do anything other than studying,”
Rushda adds,
“I have been encouraged by my relatives, as one of my cousins is an engineer and working with a renowned company. And I will be the first in my family to be a doctor.”
Recognizing her academic achievements, Rushda has also received a private scholarship from Maharashtra’s Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik.
Expressing gratitude towards the government, Rushda mentioned:
“They will be taking care of my college fees for five years, no matter where I get admission. I am very thankful to them,”
At I FOR HER, we salute Rushda’s determination, courage, and hard work. How she is fighting against her life circumstances to create a dignified life for herself and her family is quite inspiring. We feel her story is an inspiration for thousands of parents and kids, who are struggling with their life challenges to turn dreams into reality.
