Monika’s road to 100% awesomeness!

 

Monika’s journey to 100% attendance is a testimony to her unwavering commitment to change her life for the better. It’s just not an award in name. She has weathered all storms (literally, what with the Mumbai rains) and the harsh sun to achieve this milestone. No illness managed to stop her either.

The youngest of three siblings, Monika was one and a half years old when she moved from her village in Pune to Mumbai. She lost her father early on in life when she was just in the 1st standard. Today, her mother works as a housekeeper and dreams of giving Monika the education she deserves.

Living with her maternal uncle and his family, Monika is an inherently shy girl. But looks are deceptive. Despite all her circumstances and her quiet nature, Monika is sure of what she wants in her life.  Or rather what she wants from her life. Initially reluctant (like all of us when it comes to change) to even attend AXF, she has indeed come a long way and is now the proud recipient of the 100% attendance award. It was an achievement that caught her by surprise, but not her teacher. “This is nothing but a manifestation of her love for learning,” says her teacher.

The dreamer and the doer

Monika is taking small steps one day at a time to achieve her dreams. Still so young, but she understands the value of the opportunities she has been given. She wants to learn English and Math well enough to be able to teach others when she grows up. She excels not only in academics but also sports and extra-curricular activities. Having won races in her school for two consecutive years, her love for running has even led her to participate in the 2K segment of the Mumbai Marathon. 

Her love for dancing is also something she is exploring at AXF. Among the many forms of dancing, she especially enjoys the Maharashtrian Folk Dance known as lezim. She believes that with AXF she’s got a stage where she can perform and hone her skills to her heart’s content and achieve anything.