Maharashtra SSC results 2025: 30 per cent vision and 96.4 per cent ambition

Lavina Menezes 15 topped her school Canossa High School in Mahakali Andheri in the recent SSC examinations scoring 964 per cent The first rank and those impressive numbers do not tell the entire story though Marol resident Lavinarsquos topper tale is especially remarkable because her academic accomplishment came even though she is 70 per cent visually impairedLavina has optic atrophy and has lost 70 per cent of her eyesight She has 30 per cent of vision The neversaydie 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 tuitionor classesLavina studies for success PicsSatej ShindeExcellenceHer parents Wilfred and Sonia Menezes said ldquoLavina 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 Sahursquos 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 spanrdquo they said proudly Lavinarsquos brother Winston 16 helped her to clear her doubts in her studiesSpiritedSonia said about her daughter ldquoShe 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 singinghellip I used to tell her that God has given you a sharp fantastic brain We are Lavinarsquos pillars the wind beneath her wings helping her to soar higher to realise her dreamsrdquo Lavinarsquos dream is to pursue Science to eventually become a medical doctor and ldquoto help others the way I have been helpedrdquo said the spunky student acknowledging the strong family support and doffing her hat to Dr Chinmaya SahuThe visual aids make reading and writing easierShe added ldquoMy 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 theyare tests of fire and like they say only the test of fire makes fine steelrdquoMr CMBeing 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 ldquoThere 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 Fadnavisji to start a campaign on these lines promoting students like me This he can do by accepting me as his daughter and helping merdquo She then asked the state CM in Marathi ldquoBaba tumhi mala tumchi mulgi banavnar ka Will you make me your daughterrdquoCreditDr Sahu said ldquoI 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 spiritrdquo he signed off Dolphy DrsquoSouza president of Bombay Catholic Sabha BCS said ldquoIn Lavinarsquos 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 allimportant We may have huge ambitions but at times we are distracted and lose focus This is about keeping your eyes on the goal Lavinarsquos lessons are learning not just for youth but for everybodyrdquo Lavina concluded with a question ldquoIf I can do it why canrsquot yourdquo asked the teenager Well letrsquos go Lavina96437Marks scored by Lavina in SSC examatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params