Overcoming the SSLC odds

Bangalore Mirror

Bangalore, 13 May 2011:  About a year ago, 16-year-old K T Arun took hours to write a single legible line. His wasn’t a photographic memory. On the contrary, he forgot everything he read the minute after he closed the book. He even had difficulty speaking. His classmates bullied him, he was the butt of many a joke. But he remained undeterred. On Thursday, Arun was a proud lad as he passed the SSLC exam on his first attempt, scoring 177 out of a possible 400 (he was exempted from the first and third language papers). Fifty-two of those marks came in mathematics, a particular bogey for him.

 

Arun, a student of Blossoms School, was considered dyslexic, an impairment for which there is no cure. He had difficulties in studying languages, he suffered from memory loss and had writing disabilities.

 

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Arun said, “I was a slow learner, but I couldn’t put a finger on the problem. At first I thought it stemmed from a lack in concentration. Initially, even my parents refused to believe that I could not remember things. I found out I had dyslexia only when I was in the eighth standard.”

 

Two years later, Arun was still struggling to keep up with the rest of the class. In a standardised IQ test conducted by NIMHANS in November last year, Arun managed only 83. Average intelligence scores range from 87 to 112. In an assessment of academic skills, Arun’s reading ability was found to be on par with seventh standard levels, comprehension at sixth standard levels and spelling ability at fifth standard levels. On written expression (both Kannada and English) Arun was functioning at second standard levels. The assessment results also indicated huge difficulties in arithmetic.

 

The results of those tests were a big blow to Arun’s confidence as there was no lack of effort on his part. But he found strong support in his school which requested the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board to exempt him from first and third languages, a request that was acceded. With his parents and some of his classmates constantly motivating him, Arun emerged successful in the board exams.

 

“I plan to continue with my studies,” Arun said. “I want to graduate in commerce.” 

 

We at Mirror congratulate him on his success and wish him the best in his future endeavours.

 

Bed-ridden for two weeks just before test, but still successful

 

Atif Junaid had hoped to average at least 85 per cent in his SSLC exams, but his aim was blotted when he was diagnosed with appendicitis a month before the board exams could commence. Surgery and hospitalisation would rob him of two precious weeks!

“I had scored around 75 per cent in the preparatory exams and my parents and teachers were confident that I would score more than 90 per cent in the board exams,” Aatif, a student of Vanita Vidyalaya, said. “But I began experiencing excruciating pain in my abdomen around the beginning of March. I was diagnosed with appendicitis and surgery was scheduled for March 24, only a week before the start of the board exams. It was the worst thing that could have happened to me,” Atif said.

 

Atif revealed he was kept on saline for five days prior to the operation and had to survive only on water for a few days post operation.

 

“I was supposed to stay in hospital for two weeks to recover. But I had already lost precious time. I was discharged a day before my first exam. At first, I didn’t think I could attend the exam, but my mother backed me. She motivated me and that filled me with hope. I was also scared that the pain would return,” he said. 

 

Atif emerged successful with an average of 62 per cent - way below his expectations. But he is happy. 

 

“This is the most important event of my life and I did all I could,” he said. 

 

Aditya passes with flying colours

 

There’s a glow of immense satisfaction, the kind that comes from surmounting a massive hurdle, in the household of Aditya S, the 10th standard student of Camlin English School. Aditya was diagnosed with Guillian Barre Syndrome (Heart-rending tale of a friend in need and his classmates, Bangalore Mirror, February 28) only a couple of months before the board exams. Aditya, who made a speedy recovery thanks to help from his classmates, passed the SSLC exams with flying colours. He scored 65 per cent.

 

“I knew I would pass, but a low percentage would have really hurt. I’m happy now. I wish I had more time to study. I would done much better.”

 

Aditya, who plans to pursue a diploma in automobile engineering, said: “I thank my aunt, Uma and sister Akshata. And a bigger thanks to Vincent sir, who is my godfather. He taught me maths and science in just one day and in an amazing way. My friends are angels in disguise and I thank them for not losing hope in me. I also thank all those Bangaloreans for their support. It’s a dream come true.”