Humans of Pune- Om Gaikwad

I'm Om Gaikwad. At 8, I lost my father, which devastated my world. With a housewife mother and a 6-year-old sister, my family relied solely on my grandmother's monthly income. The struggle was heartbreaking; I often wondered if things would improve.

It was tough, and my family lost hope, but I held on. I believed things would get better. Education became my lifeline. My mother was my biggest pillar, she enrolled me and my sister into one the Akanksha's school in Pune called the savitribai phule public school ( SBP). I worked hard in school, excelling academically while staying humble and disciplined. Despite the challenges, I remained optimistic, knowing every achievement brought me closer to a better life.

In school, I engaged in various activities-student council, debate teams, sports, theater—finding immense happiness in spreading joy. I often invited my teachers to our small home for snacks, thanking them for their support. My hard work paid off when I scored 88.60% in my grade 10 board exams, bringing tears of pride to my mom's eyes.

But I knew this was just the beginning. With my efforts I was into the Fergusson college which is again one of the most famous and best colleges in pune, but god had some better plans, that's when I set my next goal which was United World's College Mahindra. Despite initial rejections, I persevered. On my third attempt, I received the call informing me of my acceptance into UWC Mahindra College. It was a moment of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

Transitioning to UWC, with its diverse academic approaches, was challenging. English and learning Spanish from scratch added to the difficulty. However, I normalized learning from scratch and sought help when needed. Living among diverse cultures boosted my maturity, despite initial homesickness.

I personally belive in giving back in any possible way, the way Akanksha foundation and some individuals made a change in my livelihood, same in way I also want to contribute to the community I belong from, as living in a slum community, I see boundless potential in passionate young minds. Inspired by dreams, I plan to create a non-profit school for free education and character building.