Opening Doorz

By Our Correspondent | Opening Doorz Editorial | March 21, 2018

With a B.Com. degree under his belt, Krishnan Christopher, a product of Don Bosco Night Study Class, went on to enroll for the M.Com. program with the Mumbai University. Now, having completed the Intermediate Course in Chartered Accountancy, he works as a manager with Pearl Foods. “There is no substitute for hard work. Do your bit and God will take care of the rest. It is that simple,” says Christopher.

Name: Krishnan N Christopher
Age: 37
Stays at: Dharavi, Mumbai
Passed SSC: 1995

Christopher belongs to a large family consisting of his parents, three sisters and one brother. His father, a retired mill worker, was the sole breadwinner, but he was keen that his children get an education. Christopher and his siblings studied in the local municipal school, the L K Waghji Mumbai Public School, Matunga, Mumbai. In this school, the medium of instruction, until Class VIII, was Tamil.

Turning Point
The Don Bosco Night Study Class has been founded to provide children a space where they can focus on their studies. The facility offers free accommodation to study and food. Help is at hand in the form of teachers who clear doubts. Moreover,  students who are in their crucial years of Std X and XII have always benefitted in a big way and Christopher’s story is no different. Thanks to his friend at the L K Waghji Mumbai Public School, Christopher found himself at DBNSC in the month preceding the Class X Board exams. It was a memorable experience and he describes it as the turning point in his life. It provided a solid foundation for the rest of his life and career.

The atmosphere was charged with positivity. Christopher found that living and studying with others like him made a huge difference to the way in which he approached his studies. He found a mentor and guide in Mr. Kishor Raj who helped him with mathematics. He also considers the batch-in-charge, Mr. Ravi, as a loving and positive influence on him.

During his month-long stay at DBNSC, among several other things, he learned the value of teamwork—something that has helped him throughout his career and even in his personal life. He counts himself as lucky to have had that stint with DBNSC and attributes a large portion of his success to them. Thanks to DBNSC, Christopher scored well in his Class X Board exams. The feat was repeated in the Class XII Board exams as well!

Stepping Stones to Success
With his penchant for numbers, Christopher opted for the commerce stream in college. Simultaneously, he did odd jobs to fund his education. With a B.Com. degree under his belt, Christopher went on to enroll for the M.Com. program with the Mumbai University.

Now, having completed the Intermediate Course in Chartered Accountancy, he works as a manager with Pearl Foods. When asked about these massive changes that he has brought about in his life through sheer hard work, he quips, “Well, my address hasn’t changed!” So much for remaining grounded! They say people should never forget their roots. Christopher sure hasn’t.

Parting advice
A success story like this always has some kind of message for everyone. When asked what advice he would give for those beginning their journeys, he says, “Remain focused. Stay in tune with what’s happening around you. Familiarize yourself with computers and do whatever it takes to at least acquire a degree.”

(From the book Forever Grateful to Don Bosco: Success Stories of the Young at Risk)

Also Read: The story of Deepak Sheshnath Gupta