India, a third-world nation, my motherland, places significant emphasis on education; however, education is not regarded as a guaranteed right. Instead, it is a hard earned and exclusive privilege to be bestowed upon adolescent girls. I, unlike many girls in my country, had the opportunity to complete my undergraduate studies in my homeland before pursuing my graduate studies in the USA and I feel my story can be beneficial to others. Young girls in developing countries are often forced to stop pursuing an education or career at an early age due to a lack of resources. To be more specific, it is still a belief in some Indian societies that the main responsibility of a female is to be a housewife and not partake in the workplace.
Young girls, robbed of their right to an education, are often left with no other choice but to seek alternatives such as to start working in order to earn money for their families.
I believe education is of high importance, regardless of your gender, and I am interested in young women having the opportunity to receive an education despite problems they face– domestically or socially. My mother was once a housewife and fully dependent on my father. However, at one point, she found the courage to turn her life around by following her dream of becoming a fashion designer. Currently, she is financially independent, proud of her work, and is a respectful figure in both my household and the community. Watching her make dramatic changes to fulfill her dream at a late stage in her life motivated me to pursue higher education.
During my undergraduate studies in India, I volunteered for a non-government organization (NGO) that focused on guiding, mentoring, and tutoring underprivileged high school girls. I had the opportunity to mentor Prabha, a 9th grade, highly energetic adolescent who had a passion for mathematics. Prabha loved to sing, dance and draw during her leisure time and she was one of the most brilliant students in her class. As I gradually learned more about Prabha however, I became aware of the fact that she had limited exposure to life. She had no intention of continuing studies at school after the 10th grade. Her family planned to get her married at the age of sixteen and have her start working immediately. I was dumbstruck to see how hidebound her entirely family was and how determined they were to control and plan her life.
From that point onwards, I made a pact to assist, teach and show Prabha what the world had to offer her, how she can take advantage of it, and how she can impact it.
I met with Prabha every weekend, assisting her with homework and trying to engage her in conversations about pursuing higher education. At the beginning, she was a little hesitant to open up, but eventually she got out of her shell and expressed her true passion for mathematics. Prabha wanted to be an Engineer.
After countless mentoring sessions with Prabha, I finally convinced her, as well as her family members, to give her the opportunity to get higher education that would give her the freedom to make decisions that will affect her life. Prabha just recently completed 12th grade and is preparing for her final engineering exams in order to gain admission for her undergraduate studies. I wish Prabha’s story could be a narrative for many other girls who are in similar situations. The message: do not let any external or internal impediments be barriers to rightfully obtaining an education.
By Pavani Manogna Bathini
Intern, Summer 2015
