KOCHI:A teacher once asked her class of pre-teens what their ambition in life was. Several students said doctor, quite a few replied engineer and some said scientist. When her turn came, a girl who was often dubbed as the class artist, stood up said, “When I am older, I want to work in DreamWorks Animation.” A very specific answer. Years later, this little girl, who has now grown up to be a bold 20-year-old, is one step closer to her dream.
Kochi native Soniya Stella secured the first rank in the national-level entrance exam for National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). After securing the 53rd rank in the national entrance test for the National Institute for Design (NID), she has dropped out of engineering college to pursue an undergraduate degree in design at NID, Ahmedabad.
However, her road to design school was not an easy one. The requirements to qualify for the prestigious design institutions in the country was complex for someone just out of school. “One needed a portfolio and then clear the interview,” says Soniya over the phone.
Subsequently, she joined Model Engineering College in Thrikkakkara to pursue BTech. However, she did not let go of her dream. “I took the test the next year, but fell short by of qualifying by 16 seats,” Soniya says. “I tried again this year and qualified for both institutions.”
During the second attempt, Soniya’s circumstances were different. “I had my engineering semester exams right around that time,” she says. “Even if I didn’t qualify, I did not want to fail in a subject in my engineering course. Though I did not have time to prepare, everything turned out okay.”A week ago, she moved to Ahmedabad. “It’s too soon to say what I want to do later in my life. I’m still figuring it out,” says Soniya. “I am looking forward to more good things in life.”