Against the odds, this Kashmiri girl earns prestigious UPenn scholarship

Her dreams were big so was the courage and focus and despite all odds, she made it. Adeeba Tak, the 17-year-old Kashmiri girl, achieved 100 per cent scholarship for aeronautical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

We have often heard stories of anguish, pain and violence from South Kashmir but this story is of hope, dream and hard-work. This teenage girl facing all the obstacles, hardships never gave up his dream. Her non-stop struggle gave wings to her dreams and now she would be enrolling herself in one of the world's finest university, Pennsylvania (UPenn) and pursue aeronautical engineering.

"This journey was tough and full of hardships. It required a lengthy process and proper guidance. (UPenn) is an Ivy University, I think there I can understand myself more and the world too. I can explore my dreams". said Adeeba. 

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There was a time when in 2016 the entire valley was burning, unrest, strikes and curfew had made people lock up themselves in their houses for almost six months. There was anger among youth mostly in south Kashmir. While the Kashmir was on the boil, Adeeba was working hard on her studies. This girl from Shopian, which was most affected by violence, was focused to turn her dream into reality and she finally succeeded. Adiba believes that everybody should dream big but one has to have the courage within oneself to fulfil them so that their dreams come true.

"No matter how big success is, but it is very big when your dream comes true, if one dreams big then he or she should have the ability to fulfil them. one should remain focused on one's aim. There were tough times but my family support was there. When in class 11th  there was a 7-month long unrest in the valley, my teachers helped us via internet and phone,'' said Adeeba. She further said, “everyone has something inside, you just need to explore your potential".

"I am so happy and feel proud. We should allow our children to do what they are interested in that makes them succeed, she has made us all proud, and we are happy". said Nail Gulshan,  Adeeba’s mother.

She will be first girl from Kashmir to achieve this. The university  (UPenn) is one of the most famous institutes across the globe. The university claims to have produced 30 Nobel laureates, 25 billionaires and 500 CEOs.