From a school in Shimoga – a small Tier-II city in Karnataka – to the premier Canadian International School (CIS) in Bangalore, Harshitha, a Grade 11 student made the journey against all odds. Not having the financial means to study in a premier private school in Bangalore, Harshitha had the dream of studying in a better, more holistic curriculum. Through hard work and determination, she won a 100 percent scholarship at CIS for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). CIS offers multiple scholarships every year to deserving candidates for Grade 9 as part of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program and Grade 11 for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).

Narrating how the transition took place, Harshitha, who secured the CIS scholarship for Grade 11 (IBDP) says, “When I started reading about the IB Diploma Programme last year, I felt this is what I wanted to study. A search on the internet landed me with plenty of schools, but CIS had great feedback online. When I checked out CIS’ official website and found the scholarship programme, I knew I had found my perfect fit. Coming here has been a terrific experience.  I have access to the opportunities I was always looking for. The program has propelled my dreams, providing me with doorways to paths I have never thought would be opened to me. Now, I have bigger things on my mind!”

The young and determined student completed her class X from a CISCE affiliated school in Shimoga and moved to the state board for class XI but she was not happy with the choice. She wanted a different curriculum and that’s when she stumbled upon the IBDP at CIS on the internet. Harshitha loved the school, but did not know how to get there because she could not afford it. She discovered the scholarship programme on the internet and applied straight away. “I didn’t know if I could make it, and if I did, I would have to repeat class XI but I knew I deserved it. I gave the test and I was informed that I was awarded the 100 percent scholarship – I was on cloud nine!” she added.

Harshitha comes from a middle-class family; her mother is a Hindi teacher at a local school in and her father is a photographer. She does not regret the decision of shifting schools in the middle of her course. In the beginning, her parents were sceptical but today they are proud and happy with her choice. She is now doing things at CIS that she had never dreamed possible. The school has taught her about the real world and she’s grateful to the administration and the school for considering her candidacy. Despite the modest financial means of her family, Harshitha is glad she could break free from the financial constraints.

Harshitha plans to do a double major in aerospace engineering and creative writing. She has met inspiring people at the school and her guidance counsellors and teachers are confident that she is capable of scaling great heights of success in the future.

Commenting on the scholarship programme at CIS, Shweta Sastri, managing director of the school said, “Our dream is to provide an opportunity to the best minds in the country and assist them in getting access to quality education and international learning standards. The scholarship is a means to help deserving students like Harshitha realise their educational goals by overcoming financial hardships. CIS is an inclusive school that welcomes prospective students coming from different backgrounds and regions. Offering scholarships to the next generation to pursue their dreams is what we need to create an equal world.”