Tanvi Hemani's quest for knowledge

Never let a challenge define who you are and get in the way of what you are capable of achieving.

Tanvi Hemani is a model student. Not only did she top in three of her five subjects earning her an overall score of 446/500 in her Class XII exams, she is also an artist, an athlete, and a dancer. This may seem ordinary for many but for Tanvi it is more than just that.

Accepting challenges

Tanvi is hearing-impaired and has been so since birth. At the age of seven months, it was found that Tanvi had profound hearing loss. Her parents had to make some tough decisions regarding Tanvi’s future. After coming to know about Balavidyalaya, which is considered one of the best schools for young deaf children, they made the choice to relocate from Kolkata to Chennai. Balavidyalaya helps children develop verbal language skills by making the best use of residual hearing, the ability to hear some sounds in spite of total hearing loss. The idea was that over a period of four years the training would help Tanvi and other children like her to be able to slowly start talking and eventually get fully integrated into a regular mainstream school.

When the time came for her to start Class I, Balavidyalaya helped find a school for Tanvi. From a list of possible schools that have had a history of accepting hearing- impaired children into regular classes, she eventually got admission in Sherwood Hall, Chennai. The primary concern for her parents was how Tanvi would be able to adjust into a more regular social environment and interact with other children. But the transition was smoother than expected and there was no looking back. Although initially struggling a little bit with language and speaking, Tanvi went on to excel at her academics as well as in various extra-curricular activities. She is an avid basketball player, winning numerous awards in sports as well as winning a State-level championship in painting. She was trained by her mother in lip reading right from a young age. She is also trained to pick up on vibrations from her surroundings, especially in the case of emergencies. This was a skill which she honed that helped her learn both classical and western dance. At the age of 13, Tanvi received her first cochlear implant in one ear and therapy with which her speaking and listening skills have vastly improved and she is able to communicate much better.

There were many challenges Tanvi faced during her studies. With the support of faculty and teachers at Sherwood Hall, she had been able to overcome them. One faculty in particular was Mrs. Anita George, the school’s academic consultant. She guided Tanvi through her difficulties, encouraged and motivated her during her Class XI and Class XII. Tanvi has currently received admission in Stella Maris College to pursue a Bachelor of Visual Arts, her dream degree.

It only goes to show, that with perseverance, hard work, motivation and having the right kind of support system to back you up in any difficulties, no challenge can be too hard to overcome.