receiving scholarship through the social work centre in our village. In the school final I  scored 82% mark and I wrote the TNPCEE too. I was able to get free seat with my merit. And I opted for Magna Engineering College since it is close to my home, 9 kms.  I dreamt of becoming an IT professional but I never thought one day I would become one. My younger sisters also perform well in their studies. My father was always in great dilemma as whether to stop our education or to continue. And it was beyond his financial capacity to allow all the three to complete even the 12th standard. In the little land we have flowers are cultivated and we need to work there by plucking the flowers. If it were not for the support I have got through the social work centre in my village I would not have reached this stage. They have given all the necessary support at the right stage for me to reach here. The financial help and more than that the encouragement and the moral support that even a girl from such poor socio-economic background can achieve and make a big change. Today I am just awaiting the final semester result of my BE Computer Science Engineering with a total score of 77% so far and I am confident of getting in to IT industry soon."

Prabhu

"I belong to a family of three children, my parents are landless labourers. I am one of the first generation learners at home. My elder sister discontinued studies after 8th standard. My father had interest in my studies but as he was uneducated did not know how to help me. Only thing, he never discouraged me. I stood first in School at 10th standard by scoring 78% and with 77% score I passed out from 12th standard. From 10th standard I was supported by the social work centre KSRSD in my village. They encouraged me to write the TNPCEE and I wrote. I got admission with my merit to Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Saveetha College. Through out my studies the KSRSD supported me financially and in many other ways. They visited my school and followed up my progress and even after joining college every week my progress was reviewed. I had lot of problems, especially at the college, of language because I studied in Tamil medium, then the economic background etc etc. but managed all the differences and I must be thankful to the KSRSD for helping me to cope up with all that. They wanted to see a development in my personality, now I realize the importance of all small exercises given by them such as reading the English daily every day and discussing what happened in the college with them etc. The results so far are successful. One more semester to go in college, I am hopeful of a very bright future for me once I am out of college."