Tomorrow146;s Leader

8220;Childhood goes by, age goes by, but self-confidence will remain forever,8221; said the bright and chirpy youngster in her speech. Confidence is something Mehejabeen has in plenty, considering she beat 59 other students to emerge on top after an elocution contest conducted in 45 schools to determine who would chair this year8217;s convention, held on November 19.

8220;We began this programme ten years ago, to reach out to poor children who have much less confidence than other students because of their backgrounds and consequences,8221; says Dr P N Singh, the man behind the idea, pointing out that they choose children on the basis of their simple backgrounds and their merits.

As her daughter sat among some big names in business including Mr Vithal Kamat, MD

Kamath Hotels, Ranjit Page, CEO, Cargills Ceylon Ltd, and S P Parasuraman, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, among others and had the audience floored by her speech that centered on self- confidence and hard work, Mehejabeen8217;s mother sat watching her proudly. 8220;We must send our daughters to school and educate them so that they can stand on their own feet and make something of themselves,8221; she said.

A student of Mother Teresa English High School in Malwani, Malad, Mehejabeen says she wants to become a doctor. 8220;I would like to do my MBBS and open my own hospital. Too many people in India die because they aren8217;t given enough treatment, like my grandfather,8221; says Mehejabeen.

8220;Money cannot buy confidence, confidence comes naturally, it is present inside every person, and the only thing is that we need someone to take it out,8221; said Mehejabeen in her speech. Her mentor and trainer at school, Ashish Wanjara, she says, is the one person who helped coach her for the elocution and then the Chairperson8217;s speech. 8220;He helped me with my speech and I am extremely happy that I am here,8221; said Mehejabeen, smiling up at a visibly proud Wanjara.

8220;Poverty is the biggest challenge in my life, but my self-confidence 038; talent is a big challenge to poverty,8221; said Mehejabeen, an only child whose father Kamil Sheikh works as a tailor, while her mother Kausar Sheikh is a housewife. Speaking to a rapt audience comprising corporate trainers, MBA students and other professionals, all of who listened attentively to the words of a Leader of Tomorrow.