"I was not a great student earlier," Shristi admits sheepishly. The reason was the limited infrastructure of the school in her village, where she first studied. She relied on her mother to tutor her in subjects such as Maths and Hindi, while her mother juggled several jobs to run the household. Her dedication to improving in challenging subjects sparked a passion for Mathematics and its problem-solving approach.

Inspired by her sister, a NEET aspirant and JNV student, Shristi became convinced that a career in STEM would be transformative and would help her give back to her family and community. She was determined to get into a JNV and to avail the free coaching and mentorship that Avanti provided.

In her two years with Avanti, she recalls warmly, she was taught beyond textbooks. While dedicated coaching and test prep supported her academic growth, regular mentorship and career guidance widened her horizons. "My teachers listened, encouraged, and believed in me when I didn't. Their support changed how I see myself and my future," she says.

Avanti's free, high-quality education support opened doors that had previously been unknown to Shristi. She responded well to strategic revisions, group studies, retention tests, and one-on-one mentorship that addressed both academic gaps and emotional setbacks. This support helped her build confidence, improve her conceptual understanding, and stay consistent in her preparation.

All of this, combined with her sheer determination to change her trajectory, is reflected in Shristi's 96.32 percentile in her very first attempt at JEE, which secured her a seat at NIT Rourkela.

Her village, Manchi, has a female literacy rate of just 43.74%. With dedicated students like Shristi, we are hopeful this will soon change. Steadfast in her dream of one day building a school in her village for students whose potential is greater than their resources, Shristi's journey is only just beginning!