Dream come true: Daughter of a House Help Clears NEET

“My father died because we couldn’t afford proper medical treatment. That loss changed my life forever. I decided that I wanted to become a doctor so that no family has to lose a loved one simply because they are poor,” says Neelu, who has successfully cleared the NEET
examination and is now preparing to apply to medical colleges.

Neelu’s educational journey began at Prerna Girls School, a highly subsidized school for girls from marginalized communities run by Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), where she enrolled in kindergarten and soon stood out as a bright and determined learner. Her outstanding academic performance earned her a scholarship to Study Hall School in Class 11, where she continued to excel while preparing for the NEET examination. She graduated earlier this year with an impressive 94% in the CBSE Class 12 Board examinations and has been awarded the prestigious Vahani Scholarship, making her one of only 50 students selected from thousands of applicants across India. The scholarship will support her higher education by covering her tuition and related educational expenses as she pursues her dream of becoming a cardiologist.

Raised in Digdiga village in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Neelu lives with her mother and younger sister. Her mother, the family’s sole earning member, works both as a hospital attendant and as a domestic house help. When Neelu was in Class 8, her father passed away because the family could not afford timely medical treatment. His death became the turning point in her life.

“I realised there was only one way to change my family’s future—education. Every difficulty
became another reason to study harder,” says Neelu.

Her journey was not without social barriers. Relatives and members of her community
repeatedly urged her mother to stop educating her daughters and arrange their marriages
instead. But her mother stood by her, encouraged by the education and support provided by
Prerna Girls School. “Prerna Girls School made me believe that education can transform our
lives, no matter where we come from. My success is the greatest gift I can give back to my
school. I hope my journey inspires more girls in my community to dream bigger and become
changemakers,” she says.

Dr Urvashi Sahni, Founder and CEO of SHEF, said, “Neelu’s journey is a powerful reminder that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. When girls are given access to quality education, encouragement, and the freedom to dream, they transform not only their own lives but also the future of their families and communities. We are immensely proud of Neelu and wish her every success as she begins her journey towards becoming a doctor.”

Meenakshi Bahadur, Principal, Study Hall School, said, “Neelu has always been an
exceptionally sincere, hardworking, and focused student. Balancing outstanding academic
performance with the rigorous preparation required for NEET is no small achievement. Her
resilience in the face of immense personal and financial challenges makes her success even
more remarkable. She is an inspiration to our entire school community.”