Mehak Banday/New Delhi

In a heartening development, two Kashmiri girls – Sadaf Mushtaq and Farhana Imtiyaz Makroo – have topped the 10th class examination conducted by the J&K Board of Secondary Education (BOSE) by scoring 498 out of 500 marks.

While their achievements are similar their stories run on two different tracks.

While Sadaf comes from Srinagar’s well-off family, Farhana who is from south Kashmir’s small town of Bijbehara, (Anantnag district) has faced many challenges in life.

Farhana Imtiyaz told Awaz-the Voice on the phone from her home in Bijbehara that she had lost her father when she was in eighth standard. “My mother never let me and my siblings feel the pinch of economic deprivation this tragedy brought us,” she said.

Her mother Lateefa Akhtar has been supporting the family with her meagre income of Rs 5,000. She works with Anganwari (Integrated Child Development Services, ICDS) in her town.

No wonder Farhana hero-worships her mother. “She never lost hope and courage nor did she allow us, the children, to feel depressed. We continued to focus on our education.” Her elder brother is preparing for his medical entrance examination and has joined a coaching centre in Srinagar while her younger sister is in school.

 Farhana has excelled in academics throughout her schooling.

Farhana said she believes in “the power of consistency and determination; these two have been the guiding principles in my studies. Nothing is impossible as long as one is persistent and focused.”

Inspired by her late father, who was an Ayurvedic doctor and had a clinic in the town Farhana says she wants to become a doctor and “carry forward his legacy.”

She says her father was a generous practitioner and would give medicines and offer treatment to the poor free of cost.

She wants to qualify for both the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) examinations for the MBBS course so that she can join the best Medical College.

Farhana says she believes that one's financial circumstances should never hinder one’s pursuit of education and dreams.

Farhana with her younger sister

Farhana says her Mamu (maternal uncle) Mushtaq Ahmed Wani has been another source of her strength. “Her uncle had given the family’s apple orchard to her family for using the proceeds of harvest for their needs.

She said her uncle’s support saw the family through difficult times. Farhana expressed her gratitude to her Mamu, and his contribution to making her dreams come true is immense.

In her pursuit of excellence, Farhana advises aspiring students to display consistency in their studies. She firmly believes that unnecessary breaks and interruptions can impede one's path to achieving excellent results.

Farhana emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady focus and dedicating oneself to continuous learning and improvement. She encourages students to set clear goals, develop effective study habits, and remain committed to their educational journey.

His generosity and belief in her potential have alleviated the financial burdens that could have hindered her progress. Farhana expresses her heartfelt gratitude to her maternal uncle, recognizing his invaluable contribution to making her dreams a reality.

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Her advice to those seeking to emulate her is: consistency and regular study are important; one must do proper time management and make daily study a compulsive habit.