Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, May 14: Lavina Wilfred Menezes, a student of Canossa High School in Andheri East, has garnered widespread admiration by scoring an impressive 96.4% in the SSC board exams, securing the first rank in her school.

What makes her achievement even more extraordinary is that Lavina is visually impaired, with 70% vision loss. Despite this challenge, she demonstrated remarkable determination, using a 7x magnifying glass and specialized magnifying spectacles to study and write her exams—without the assistance of a writer, tuitions, or extra help.

Lavina credits her ophthalmologist, Dr Chinmaya Sahu, for providing her with the necessary visual aids, enabling her to pursue her academic goals.

"I have always topped every year, and this year is no different. It is a moment of immense pride for me and my school. My parents and my elder brother have been my strong pillars, supporting me throughout this journey," said Lavina.

Her dream is to pursue a career in science and enter the medical field, hoping to serve others the way she has been helped.

Lavina's message to those facing challenges: "Obstacles will come, but don’t give up. If I can do it, so can you."