Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur and motivational speaker, once said, “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” Vaishnavi Mohan, a final year engineering student, knew somehow that lamenting over the financial difficulty of her family would not solve her troubles. She had to find a way to overcome the monetary hurdle she was facing. So, she charted out her own path with the support of her family to achieve what she aspired for. Her efforts paid off when she became one of the recipients of L’Oréal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship.
Buddy4Study had a conversation with her regarding her academic journey. This scholar success story has excerpts from the same.
Scholar Success Story – Vaishnavi Mohan: A L’Oréal India Scholar
Buddy4Study: Share with us a brief background about your academic and professional journey (if any) until now.
Vaishnavi Mohan: I am currently studying in the final year of electrical & electronics engineering at Trinity College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, and I am extremely happy about it. I have always been a meritorious student. I completed class 10 from St. Therese’s Convent Girls Higher Secondary School, Neyyattinkara with 95% marks and class 12 with a score of 97% marks from Government Higher Secondary School, Neyyattinkara. I also used to participate in extracurricular activities during my school days.
Buddy4Study: What motivated you to pursue your concurrent course?
Vaishnavi Mohan: I chose PCM in class 12 because I wanted to pursue an engineering course. My ambition in life is to become a space scientist and work for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). That’s why I went for Electrical & Electronics Engineering.
Buddy4Study: What were the key challenges faced by you during the course of your journey to reach here?
Vaishnavi Mohan: I come from an average middle-class Keralite family. My father is a small farmer and mother a housewife. During my higher secondary studies, the financial situations in my family deteriorated which made it difficult for my family to manage my academic expenses. Getting enrolled in coaching classes to prepare for engineering entrance exams was not even a plausible option. My father started working as a welder at a medical workshop to support my education. It was really a difficult phase for the whole family.
Buddy4Study: What has been your source of inspiration?
Vaishnavi Mohan: My mother has always been my source of inspiration. I grew up seeing the struggles she underwent while looking after me. I want to make my parents proud of me.
Buddy4Study: How has your family supported you in your venture to pursue this course?
Vaishnavi Mohan: My whole family supported me in my pursuit of higher education. My grandfather gave me his pension so that I could pay the first instalment of my tuition fee to join the engineering college on time.
Buddy4Study: How did you come to know about the L’Oréal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship? What were the steps followed to avail the scholarship?
Vaishnavi Mohan: Seeing the financial condition of my family, I didn’t want to burden them with my educational costs. I started looking for ways that would support my studies. At that time, I came across the website of Buddy4Study. I became a regular visitor of the site and started applying for every possible scholarships and competition that I was eligible for including L’Oréal India For Young Women in Science Scholarship. One day, I got a mail from Buddy4Study informing me that I had qualified for a telephonic interview round. After the telephonic round, I was called for a direct interview which was held in the L’Oreal office at Bengaluru. Almost a month later, I got a confirmation mail saying I had been selected as one of the 50 girl students who would receive the L’Oréal India scholarship.
Buddy4Study: What are your ambitions for your future and how do you plan to execute them?
Vaishnavi Mohan: I have always dreamt of working with ISRO as a space engineer. And, I am working hard to realise this dream. I want to make my family proud of me. I want to make them feel that their hard work and sincerity in bringing me up is not wasted.
Are you feeling motivated after reading the scholar success story of Vaishnavi Mohan? If yes, then start your search for a suitable scholarship on Buddy4Study and apply. There is a possibility that you can be the next successful scholar.