What is your name? What is your age? What is your village?
My name is Sunita Rathore. I am 19, from Sathin.
When did you come to the hostel?
I’ve lived here 17 months.
Describe your family. Describe the family members, who they are, their ages, etc. Tell how it is to live with your family. What were the hardships and challenges that you faced, living at home?
One sister, 20
Two brothers, 15, 24. All children are unmarried.
Mother and father. Father was in the military, a low position. He gets a pension but it isn’t much.
I had to leave home in order to study. In my family most girls don’t go further than the tenth grade. My father told me that he would not let me continue, but I told him that I had high marks and wanted to continue.
What challenges do you encounter here at the hostel?
I was lonely at first. Now I’m feeling better. I’ve made friends. The wardens have good behavior. The Veerni staff is very supportive.
Do you like the hostel, the school? In what ways do you like or dislike them?
I like it here. I have no dislikes. I like the day to be systematic and regular. I like that about the hostel.
What makes you happy?
Listening to sad songs.
Horseback riding.
Swimming.
Playing cricket.
Digital photography. (She doesn’t have a camera but really wants one.)
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
I want to make my parents happy.
I want to eliminate poverty in India.
I want to adopt a sweet child. I will call her Trishna. Trisna means to satisfy thirst. I will educate her.
What would you like to do in the future?
I want to become an army officer.
I want to start orphanages, called Trishna.
I am inspired by Mother Teresa and by Kiran Bedi.
What is your favorite thing?
I want to work, have a career.
I want to give a lovely home to my parents.
What would you have if you could have anything in the world?
I want to become an army officer and then to get into politics.
Tell me about your mother.
She is kind and polite. She is 42, a good mother. She has a fifth grade education. When she needs to be strong she is strong. When she needs to be soft she’s soft.
What makes you cry?
I feel guilty when I ask my father for money. I feel badly when I see my father working too hard. I want my parents to retire and to live happily in a sweet home that I have given them.
When I see poor people on the road I have so many questions. I feel guilty about their poverty. But I have no money. I would give it to them if I could. I want answers to these questions.