BY: AHMAD SHABIR
Srinagar: A girl student from a government high school in central Kashmir’s Budgam district was one of the toppers of class 10 exams, the results of which was declared on Friday.
Gousia Farooq, who was studying at Government High School (GHS) Gariend in Budgam secured 500 out 500 marks.
Hailing from a small hamlet of Patlibagh, Gousia comes from a poor family and has always studied in government schools.
“I got my primary, elementary and secondary education from government schools only,” Gousia said.
Though in class 5th, her father had admitted her in a private school but the financial conditions of the family forced them to move her to government school again.
“I studied in private school for only three months and realised that my father was not in a position to pay my school fee. Though the school management was ready to teach me free of cost but I moved to government school again,” Gousia told Precious Kashmir.
Gousia has five sisters and a brother, who is the younger of all. Three sisters elder to her have completed graduation while the one, younger to her studies in class 8th.
“All my elder sisters have studied in government schools and I followed them too,” Gousia said.
She gives the credit of her grand success to her father and teachers.
“My father has always been supportive to us. Despite facing poverty he never let me feel what he actually was going through. Besides he always prays for our success and I firmly believe that my success is the result of his prayers. My teachers also deserve the credit of my success,” she said.
Gousia believes that it is the commitment and determination of a student that actually plays a role in his or her success.
“If you don’t have a commitment, you are bound to fail no matter where you study,” she said.
Gousia did not take any tuition while preparing for exams. “After the outbreak of Covid pandemic everything was shut, I attended some online classes initially and then decided to go for self study only”.
Her father Farooq Ahmad Mughal is overjoyed over the success of his daughter.
“There can be no joy for a father than this. I think my daughteris the only student from government school who is among the toppers,” Mughal said and credited her daughter’s hard work and her teachers guidance for Gousia’s success.
