Tulasi Narayanaswamy: Against All Odds

Tulasi's Story

Tulasi is a brilliant young woman who has the aspiration, grit, and determination to be successful. Coming from a low-income family living in a remote village in Karnataka, Tulasi had limited opportunities and access to higher education.

Tulasi's parents work as caretakers in a farmhouse and live with their three daughters in a small semi-constructed room provided by their employer. Their only supplementary income comes from raising sheep.

Tulasi travelled seven kilometers daily to school, where she completed her 12^th-grade education. She wanted to pursue a course in engineering but was conscious that her parents would not be able to afford the fees.

When Tulasi learned about the Cadence Scholarship Program through her school, she was determined to apply. For her, this was a golden opportunity—perhaps her only opportunity—for higher education. She prepared for the interview through long hours of studying and impressed the panelists during the scholarship screening round with her dedication and perseverance, despite her hardships and limited resources.

With Cadence Scholarship Program support, Tulasi enrolled in a well-reputed engineering college, BNM Institute of Technology, Bangalore, to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Information Science and Engineering. 

Throughout the Cadence Scholarship Program, her Cadence mentor, Ritwika Mondal, supported her by helping her improve her written and verbal communication skills and giving her invaluable career advice.

Tulasi graduated in 2022 with high marks and received a job offer from a well-known company with a salary that is at par with the best in the industry. She is extremely motivated to succeed in life, whether it’s through her studies or her new job. Her goal of supporting her parents and sisters has now been realized. It's heart-warming to see how a little help in someone's life can go such a long way. Tulasi has inspired her younger sisters to pursue their education despite challenges.

Tulasi says, "I am proud of myself and my mentor who made my success story a reality “Receiving the scholarship has paved the way to better myself, have a career I am proud of, help people in need, and support my family. Every act of kindness is like a ripple in a pond," she concluded.

Cadence Scholarship Program

Introduced six years ago in India, the Cadence Scholarship Program aims at addressing the issue of retaining students from underprivileged backgrounds in the academic cycle through funding and support to undertake graduation and professional courses for livelihood. Over the years, it has benefited more than 400 students across Delhi/NCR, Bangalore, Pune, and Ahmedabad.

The execution and administration of the program is managed by our NGO partners Concern India Foundation (CIF) and Joining Hands. The students are selected through a rigorous process of due diligence carried out by Joining Hands. Concern India Foundation oversees the student’s performance throughout their coursework. Cadence employees in each of these locations volunteer as mentors to help them with their studies, develop their personalities and improve their communication and employability skills.