Merit-lister in the SSC exams, 15-year-old Lavina Menezes who is 70 per cent visually impaired tops her school — Canossa High School in Andheri — this year
Lavina achieves academic excellence despite the odds. Pic/Satej Shinde
Lavina Menezes, 15, topped her school, Canossa High School in Mahakali, Andheri, in the recent SSC examinations, scoring 96.4 per cent. The first rank and those impressive numbers do not tell the entire story though. Marol resident Lavina’s topper tale is especially remarkable because her academic accomplishment came even though she is 70 per cent visually impaired.
Lavina has optic atrophy and has lost 70 per cent of her eyesight. She has 30 per cent of vision. The never-say-die Lavina uses 7x magnifying glasses and specialised magnifying spectacles to study and write her exams. She has scored so high without having a writer or going for any special tuition
or classes.
Lavina studies for success. Pics/Satej Shinde
Excellence
Her parents, Wilfred and Sonia Menezes, said, “Lavina has always been academically excellent, despite having difficulties in seeing the blackboard even from the first bench from a very young age. She is an ophthalmologist, Dr Chinmaya Sahu’s patient. The doctor knew that she was extremely gifted academically. He provided her with these visual aids and motivated her to study well. She has excelled in school throughout. During the SSC exams, she did not have a writer. She got an additional 20 minutes per hour to finish a paper in the SSC board exams. For instance, if a paper was for an hour, she had 80 minutes to finish it. If it were for three hours, then she would have four hours to finish it, with 20 minutes extra for each hour. She finished all her papers within that time span,” they said proudly. Lavina’s brother Winston, 16, helped her to clear her doubts in her studies.
Spirited
Sonia said about her daughter, “She did not let her impairment get her down in any way. We, as parents, have stood rock solid behind her, encouraging her. She has always been a spirited girl; she loves drawing, singing… I used to tell her that God has given you a sharp, fantastic brain. We are Lavina’s pillars, the wind beneath her wings helping her to soar higher to realise her dreams.” Lavina’s dream is to pursue Science to eventually become a medical doctor and, “to help others the way I have been helped,” said the spunky student acknowledging the strong family support and doffing her hat to Dr Chinmaya Sahu.
The visual aids make reading and writing easier
She added, “My principal, Sr Margaret Sequeira, always motivated me. So did my school teachers. The most important role, though, was that of my parents, who pushed me to study every single day and that resulted in my success. I tell all parents to truly motivate their children to study. Challenges will always be there; they
are tests of fire, and like they say, only the test of fire makes fine steel.”
Mr CM
Being differently abled herself, Lavina knows just how difficult a journey it is for persons like her. She had a special message for Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. She said to the CM, “There are so many noble and generous businessmen, doctors, actors, politicians, and cricketers in our country. If all of them help at least one hardworking, differently abled child like me, many dreams will come true, and our success stories will be an inspiration for other students. As I live in Mumbai, I appeal to our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-ji to start a campaign on these lines, promoting students like me. This he can do by accepting me as his daughter and helping me.” She then asked the state CM in Marathi: “Baba tumhi mala tumchi mulgi banavnar ka? (Will you make me your daughter?)”
Credit
Dr Sahu said, “I am so proud of her. When I learnt Lavina had topped her school, it brought tears to my eyes. My best wishes to her and to her family. She gave me credit, but let me tell you, it is all her hard work. Hats off to her spirit,” he signed off. Dolphy D’Souza, president of Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS), said, “In Lavina’s achievement, there is a message for all of us: wherever there is a will, there is a way. She has displayed grit and determination and taught us that focus is all-important. We may have huge ambitions, but at times, we are distracted and lose focus. This is about keeping your eyes on the goal. Lavina’s lessons are learning not just for youth, but for everybody.” Lavina concluded with a question, “If I can do it, why can’t you?” asked the teenager. Well, let’s go, Lavina.
96.4%
Marks scored by Lavina in SSC exam
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