Hyderabad: In an inspiring tale of resilience, Raaga Pranavi, a Class 12 student from Hyderabad Public School (HPS) in Ramanthapur, scored an impressive 96% in the CBSE examinations, emerging as one of the top performers in the commerce stream. This achievement is particularly remarkable given that she spent much of the academic year battling a severe leg injury that left her largely confined to bed.
The Accident and Its Aftermath
Pranavi, who also serves as the head girl of her school, met with a serious accident at the start of her grade 12 academic year while learning to drive. The incident resulted in fractures to both her tibia and fibula—the two long bones connecting the knee and the ankle. The injury necessitated surgery and the insertion of a metal rod in her leg, forcing her to take repeated breaks from school.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Pranavi said, "There were days I couldn't even walk or attend classes. My leg would swell so much that I had to visit the doctor multiple times a week. I was supposed to be operated on during my prefinals, but we deferred it due to exams. That led to the swelling intensifying and making the pain worse."
Self-Study and Virtual Support
Despite missing the majority of her classroom time, Pranavi relied heavily on self-study and virtual support from her teachers and classmates. Her teachers stayed in touch over WhatsApp, sending notes and guiding her through chapters, while friends shared classwork to help her keep up with the syllabus.
Pranavi explained, "I didn't follow a strict timetable, but I made sure I studied consistently every day, even if it was just for a few hours. Some mornings were too difficult to wake up to and study but I pushed myself a bit and it paid off."
Balancing Multiple Responsibilities
Balancing academics with her responsibilities as head girl and involvement in extracurricular activities—including debating and classical dance—added to the challenge. However, she remained determined to prove that she could excel on all fronts without seeking sympathy.
She said, "I didn't want people to think I neglected academics because of everything else and did not want people to treat me with sympathy."
Future Plans
Pranavi now plans to pursue law or a combination of economics and political science, with Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce among her top choices. Her father works as a software engineer, while her mother is a homemaker.
