Subhashree Raj, a 17-year-old girl living in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, comes from a single-parent household. Her mother had to take over her family’s responsibilities after her father passed away when Subhashree was five years old.
She has witnessed her mother struggle to make ends meet from an early age, and as the eldest daughter, she felt compelled to share the burden of domestic responsibilities. The economic situation at home distracted her from focusing on her own growth and development. The gender-based stereotypes and prejudices exacerbated her struggles. All these worked to lower her confidence and self-esteem.
Battling Realities Through Sport
Participating in activities led by Pro Sport Development helped Subhashree find an escape as well as build an interest in sports. In her childhood, she enjoyed playing games and sports in her neighbourhood, but she never got the opportunity to participate in organized sports properly.
PSD provided her with that platform, and it became a significant turning point in her individual growth. Through PSD’s constant support and encouragement, not only has Subhashree been able to improve her performance, but she has gained great confidence in herself and her abilities, helping her achieve tremendous personal growth.
Boundless Growth
To commend her growth and invest in her potential as a leader, she has been awarded a scholarship by KickOff Solutions, instituted in partnership with PSD. The scholarship provides a total of Rs. 1,25,000 over a period of two years, allowing her to continue her affiliation to sports, as well as gain economic empowerment.
This scholarship has enabled Subharashree to take the financial burden off her mother’s shoulders as she is managing her own expenses – including her education in her preferred subjects, which otherwise seemed challenging for her mother.
During the pandemic, Subhashree’s mother’s economic situation was precarious as she faced salary cuts, further making it difficult to support her education, especially because she wanted to study science. The scholarship helped Subhashree become more self-sufficient, with access to her own money, helping her exercise her agency.
In addition to economic independence, Subhashree feels the most important aspect of individual growth is her mental strength and maturity. Over the years, she has learned how to deal with demanding situations with a sense of control – which is the biggest sign of mental strength for her.
She has been able to achieve this growth with the help of sports, as her participation has allowed her to get more confident, making her surer of her ability to face tough circumstances.
Additionally, PSD’s programs also played a crucial role in building her awareness of gender, which has further enabled her to not pay heed to the societal pressures and biases she often faces.
Aspiring For A Bright Future
Subhashree’s perseverance and determination have helped her achieve all that she has, and she is just 17! She is now thinking of the path she wants her future to take – she has recently gained interest in joining the Indian Army and has been considering that as one of her career options.
Though not a conventional path for many girls, Subhashree wants to gauge whether this is a path she wants to take. With her calibre, maturity, and growing independence, she is confident that she will be able to make the decision that is right for her.