24-year-old's success story serves to inspire all students

 

"Failure is only for a short period, but serves as a stepping stone to success."

This is the aphorism that young Savita Doke, an MBA who has successfully completed her education after braving formidable odds, lives by.

Most students slip into depression, give up on education or their dreams, or take some extreme step after facing failure or privation of any kind. But not 24-year-old Doke, who has set an example with her persistent diligence to realise her dreams, fighting the destitution her large family has faced.

Doke shares her success story, which she scripted despite her economically weak background.

She lived with her parents and five siblings - two elder sisters and three brothers - in an 8x8 sq ft house in Khar area. She studied in one of the BMC schools in Khar and secured 62% in her SSC examination in 2006. Staying with seven other family members in cramped quarters could not discourage or deter Doke from taking up higher studies.

Doke said, "My mother is a scrap-picker and my father sells old clothes. Since they used to go to work and come late in the evening, I attended my school in the afternoon till 6pm and had to study at night after completing the household chores. Both my elder sisters left their education midway due to our impoverished condition. But due to the good progress I showed in school, I continued with my studies."

Doke successfully completed her HSC exams from one of the junior colleges in Khar, and secured 70%. She was never forced to work during her schooling or even during junior college. But at the time of pursuing further studies, she was asked to bear her own educational expenses while completing her degree.

Doke said, "I know what failure is, as I got ATKT (allowed to keep term) in one of my subjects in the first year of my graduation (Bacherlor's in Computer Application). That happened because I used to work till late night to support my educational expenses, which affected my studies. However, I even got success in completing my degree. Looking at my two sisters and my parents' life, I decided never to give up my studies and aim to get a good job on the strength of a good education. Hence, I went on to do my MBA in Marketing, and finally landed up a job with a good organisation. Now, I have left my first job and am looking for a new one with better prospects.

One should never give up their studies because of failure or hardship. I feel failure is there only for a short period and it helps us climb the ladder of success."