Bangalore: She searches for opportunities amidst difficulties and is not overwhelmed by pain and misery. That's 17-year-old Shalini, who helps her mother as a maid servant in five houses, while juggling studies, and scored 84.8 percent in science stream in second PUC (Pre-University or 12th) board exams.

"I search for opportunities amidst difficulties. I am not overwhelmed by the onslaught of pain and misery," Shalini told PTI with a philosophical touch.

Life has not been kind enough for her as she had to face agony while pursuing her studies. "From past seven years,I have been helping my mother as a maid servant in five houses while juggling my studies," she said. Shalini said she started helping her mother after her father was paralysed after falling off a building over a decade ago.

"There was no other option for me but to help my mother in her chores because my father fell off a building and was paralysed. He is bed-ridden for over a decade," she said. Just before the second PUC exam, she was struck by misfortune again as her brother was diagnosed with third stage blood cancer.

"I aimed for scoring marks in the range of 90 to 95 percent, but could not. I had to attend to my brother, who is hospitalised for having diagnosed with third stage blood cancer," she said.

"Nevertheless, for me marks are not that important than my brother's well-being," she added. Though Shalini underwent trials and tribulations of the life, she never failed to keep the smile on her face. "Until now I was not knowing anything about her father and brother's health condition. I came to know through newspaper reports. She never gave an impression of the hardships she

faced. She is extremely hardworking girl," SGPTA PU College Principal Prathap Naidu said.

Not only Shalini, but also Barnita Mondal, in another such success story, has been an inspiration for students by securing 95 percent in the PCMB stream, as she could achieve the feat with the help of his father, who is an auto driver.

Being an auto driver, her father faced financial challenges but did everything to cater to the academic needs of her daughter, who for the last couple of years, have given her financial support.

"My father faced financial challenges but he fulfilled all that I desired, academically. That way I am not facing any financial problem from past two years as Samruddhi Trust has taken care of that," she said.

Shalini wants to study electronics and become successful and make her parents proud."I also want to give something back to Samruddhi Trust and want to help poor students," she said.