Srinagar, Apr 30: Shibra Ataullah Jan from Safa Kadal, Srinagar, has turned personal loss into quiet strength—emerging as a topper in the Home Science stream despite losing her father at a young age. A student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kothi Bagh, Shibra passed her Class 11 and 12 with distinction, making her mother, teachers, and late father proud.
“First credit goes to Almighty Allah,” says Shibra. “And then to my school principal and Home Science teachers who supported us at every step. The subject lacks easily available material, but our teachers worked hard to collect and provide it. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
While many dismiss Home Science as a non-serious stream, Shibra challenges that misconception head-on. “People think it’s just cooking or household work. That’s a myth. Home Science is a mix of science and arts. We study biology, nutrition, psychology, and more. It deserves the same respect as medical or commerce streams.”
Balancing her studies with responsibility at home, Shibra also manages a small home-based business. Her routine involved early morning study sessions after Fajr prayers, followed by afternoon work preparing orders for customers. Even while exam dates loomed, she kept her business running until the final weeks.
When the results were announced, Shibra initially hesitated to believe she had topped. “I was nervous, especially because of some fake result messages going around. But when I checked it myself, it was real. My mother was overwhelmed with joy. It felt like a gift to her and a tribute to my late father.”
Shibra’s success story is rooted in quiet resilience—a combination of faith, discipline, and the drive to rise despite life’s early setbacks.
She now plans to pursue a BSc in Home Science and become a professional nutritionist. “I want people to know that Home Science has value. I’m not a bookworm—I’m a determined girl who studied smart, worked hard, and dared to dream beyond stereotypes.”— (KB)
