Every evening, as many students begin revising for the next day’s classes, Surthani Prasad puts on a helmet instead of opening a textbook. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., he rides through the streets of Guntur as a Rapido rider, earning just enough to keep his medical education going. Only after returning late at night does he sit down to study medicine.
For Prasad, becoming a doctor has never been just about clearing examinations. It has meant finding ways to keep moving forward, even when circumstances made every step more difficult.
Raised in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Surthani grew up in a family where formal education was rare. Most of the elders in his family never had the opportunity to study, and he grew up believing that education could change not just one life, but the future of an entire family. He still remembers the pride and respect he received after securing the first rank in his village as a school student. That experience stayed with him, reinforcing his belief that learning could open doors that had long remained closed.
His parents work as daily wage labourers in the local Mirchi Yard. Their earnings depend entirely on the season. During the off-season, work becomes scarce, and the family’s already modest income falls further, making it difficult to meet even routine household expenses.
The journey to medical college was anything but straightforward. Prasad appeared for the NEET examination three times before finally earning admission to Guntur Medical College. Preparing for the examination while trying to support himself financially proved almost impossible. Recognising that he needed one final focused attempt, he made a difficult decision. He stopped working for a year, borrowed money to join a NEET coaching institute, and devoted himself entirely to preparation. The gamble paid off. His hard work finally secured him a seat in MBBS, making him the first person from his entire village to enter medical school.
Today, even after achieving that dream, financial pressures have not disappeared. To contribute to his educational expenses and daily needs, he works every evening as a Rapido rider. There are days when demanding academic schedules prevent him from working, leaving him worried about the income he will miss. Balancing medical education with part-time work requires discipline and sacrifice, but he continues because he knows every earning helps reduce the burden on his family.
Finding a place to study has been another unexpected challenge. With a large family sharing a small home, quiet study time is difficult to come by. To prepare effectively, Prasad rents a modest room where he can spend a few uninterrupted hours reading, attending to coursework, and preparing for examinations. It is a simple space, but one that has become essential to his academic journey. His younger sister is also pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy in Andhra Pradesh with a full government fee waiver. Together, the siblings represent a new chapter for their family, one built on education and opportunity.
Beyond academics, Prasad has always valued participation outside the classroom. During school, he served as the School Pupil Leader, developing leadership skills and learning the importance of responsibility. In medical college, he actively participates in ball badminton and cricket and is currently working towards earning a place on the university team. He also volunteers in medical camps organised by the college, helping provide healthcare services to local communities and gaining early exposure to the responsibilities of the medical profession.
Receiving the Lakshya Scholarship from Shiksha Sankalp Society has brought meaningful support to Prasad’s journey. While his family continues to shoulder significant financial responsibilities and he continues working part-time, the scholarship eases a part of the financial burden associated with pursuing medical education. It allows him to focus more consistently on his studies and move closer to his goal of becoming a compassionate doctor.
Prasad’s life is shaped by persistence, by repeated attempts, long working hours, borrowed opportunities, and the determination to keep going when giving up would have been easier. As the first MBBS student from his village, he carries not only his own aspirations but also the hopes of many who now believe that higher education is possible.
Sometimes, the biggest milestones begin quietly, with a student who refuses to stop trying.
