Life is tough on most people. On our privileged journey, we often tend to forget about the people who do not have it as good as us. However, if you ever care to look, you will always find heartwarming stories that will, at first, make you check your privilege, and second, appreciate the hard work that was put into achieving that goal.?
Such is the story of 17-year-old Ashma Shaikh who lives on the footpath with her parents and brother.?
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The family lives on the footpath at Azad Maidan in Fort, Mumbai, and despite the hardships, Ashma secured 40 per cent in SSC exams. While most of us barely pass even with every resource at our beck and call, Ashma's score speaks volumes about the immense hard work she has put in her studies.
She told Times of India, "It was difficult to study during the day due to the continuous honking and traffic, so I would prefer to study at night under the streetlight."
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Ashma is a student of Hirjeebhoy Allahrakhia Laljeebhoy Sajan Girls High School in Dongri.
Her father, a lime juice vendor, works extremely hard to ensure that both his children, Ashma and her brother, get access to proper education. The class X student assists her father during the day.?
Ashma also mentioned how her father worked hard and managed to enroll her for tuitions so she could concentrate on her studies. However, the family still owes Rs 6,000 in dues to the tutor as her father has been out of work since the coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed.?
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Ashma wants to keep studying further and her aspiration is to pursue arts and become a journalist.
Knowing when you have less, you always aim for more. If people who have nothing cannot lose hope, neither should anyone else. Keep your privilege in check and make the most of it while also lending a helping hand to those who need it more than you.