When Shaik Mehthab looks back at her journey to medical school, she does not remember a single defining moment. Instead, she remembers hundreds of ordinary days – her father leaving home at seven every morning to drive his auto-rickshaw, returning only around ten at night, her mother quietly managing the household, and the family constantly finding ways to stretch a modest income to support two daughters with ambitious dreams.
Growing up in Guntur, education was never taken for granted. Every milestone came with sacrifice. Mehthab excelled academically from an early age, and in Class 12, she secured an outstanding 97.8% and emerged as the Guntur district topper. In recognition of her achievement, the state Government of Andhra Pradesh awarded her INR 50,000.
For many students, that award might have marked the end of a successful school journey. For Mehthab, it became the beginning of another challenge.
Mehtab’s dream was to become a doctor. Encouraged by one of her school teachers, who recognised both her aptitude and determination, she set her sights on pursuing MBBS. The COVID-19 pandemic strengthened that resolve even further. Watching the impact of the health crisis on families and communities convinced her that she wanted to dedicate her life to caring for others.
Despite her excellent high school academic record, she did not secure a medical seat in her preferred government college on her first attempt at NEET. Rather than giving up, she made a difficult but courageous decision to take a gap year and prepare again. The INR 50,000 prize money she had received from the state government was invested entirely in private coaching, giving herself another opportunity to pursue the goal she had worked towards for years.
Her perseverance paid off. On her second attempt, Mehthab cleared NEET and earned admission to Guntur Medical College, one of Andhra Pradesh’s respected government medical institutions.
Behind this achievement stands a family whose sacrifices often went unseen. Mehthab’s father works as an auto-rickshaw driver, spending nearly fifteen hours a day on the road to support the family. Her mother is a homemaker, and his earnings are the household’s only regular source of income. Alongside Mehthab, her elder sister is also pursuing higher education, currently studying in the third year of B.Tech. Although her sister benefits from a full government fee waiver, the family’s day-to-day educational expenses, living costs, and other necessities continue to place significant pressure on their limited income. To ensure that both daughters could continue their studies, their father often had to borrow money from friends whenever expenses exceeded what he could earn.
For Mehthab, becoming a doctor is not just a personal aspiration, it is also the fulfilment of a dream shared with her father. Every long working day he has spent behind the wheel has been driven by the hope that his daughters would have opportunities he never had.
Receiving the Lakshya Scholarship from Shiksha Sankalp Society marks an important milestone in that journey. While pursuing an MBBS degree involves substantial academic and living expenses over several years, the scholarship provides meaningful financial support that eases some of the burden on her family. It allows Mehthab to focus more fully on her medical education, knowing that she is supported by people who believe in her potential.
Today, as a second-year MBBS student, Mehthab continues to work with the same determination that carried her through setbacks and second chances. Her story is a proof that success is not always about reaching the destination on the first attempt. Sometimes, it is built through persistence, the quiet encouragement of teachers, the unwavering faith of parents, and the resilience to keep moving forward even when the path becomes longer than expected.
One day, when Dr. Shaik Mehthab begins caring for her own patients, she will carry with her not only the knowledge gained in medical school, but also the values that shaped her journey – hard work, gratitude, compassion, and the determination to honour every sacrifice that made her dream possible.
