How does it feel to be the first person in a village to attend school and college? We ask Sangeetha Chinnasamy, the first girl from the Irula tribe to accomplish this feat. Sangeetha belongs to Veeranamoor, a small panchayat in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, made up of 84 villages. She is the oldest of three daughters from Chinnasamy, who worked as a slave laborer in a brickyard during her early years, while her family stayed away from him.

The workers were rescued when Sangeetha was seven, the family was then finally reunited. “Due to poverty, my father had to drop out of school after grade VII,” she says, adding that he always wanted to go to college because he believed education was the way to go. empowerment. “Her relentless motivation kept the fire of desire burning in me,” she further states.

Sangeetha says her school career would not have been possible without the unwavering support of her parents. She is proud of her parents who she believes will move mountains for her. “They provide me with everything I need, from financial needs to counseling. I wouldn’t have gone this far without their help. My dad still owes money on loans and fees he has. contracted for my studies. My family chose to support my studies and my goals, while my relatives chose to save money for their daughters’ weddings, “Sangeetha says, saying that her trip was never easy.

Remembering going to school hungry at one point, Sangeetha says her parents never hesitated to take out a loan to even pay for her transportation costs. After completing her education, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a unique tenacity and never-say-nothing attitude. She is convinced that she can inspire other girls in her village to continue their education, just as she has.

Despite the fact that she didn’t have many friends at school due to the tribe to which she belongs, she continued to attend classes. Sangeetha is relieved to finally have made close friends in college. “I want to finish my graduate studies in nursing and specialize in intensive care,” says the motivated youngster, who now mentors young girls in her village and instills in them the value of education and how it helps them keep up. head held high.

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