A spiring 13-year-old astronomist, Shavlin Shika Singh, says she was motivated by the fear of receiving low grades.

Being the only child in her family, she joined Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Primary School since Year 1.

“It is a dream come true. It was through their hardwork that I was able to receive this award,” she said.

She said her daily activities were scheduled with the use of a timetable her mother had drawn.

“I enjoy studying especially in the afternoon from 6 to 9pm,” she said.

As a competitive young woman, she says her motivation to earn the Dux award was by beating her friend from another class.

“She is smart as well and that got me to compete,” she said.

She laughed while sharing her experience of being bullied because of her height.

“They would usually tell me that I don’t look like a Year Eight student and sometimes I would take it negatively but at other times, as a joke,” she said.

With her father working as an Electrician and operating his own business, she said she was fortunate to be raised in a family that was financially stable.

She said she only experienced studying using a lamp during the cyclone period.

“My parents motivated me to work harder because I have a lot of goals I would like to achieve,” she said.

The Minister for Education, Mahendra Reddy, was chief guest at the event.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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