Fighting a rare form of cancer for nearly three years did not stop Adrija Gan from performing brilliantly in academics. The teenager from Nimta in West Bengal emerged as one of the top performers in the Higher Secondary examination results announced on Thursday.A student of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Girls’ School in Bagbazar, Adrija scored 487 marks and secured joint 10th rank in the merit list released by the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE).She had earlier scored 94 per cent in the Madhyamik or Class 10 board examinations as well.Adrija’s health battle began in 2018 while she was appearing for her Class 6 annual examinations. She was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of cancer.Her father, Joymangal Gan, said the family still remembers the difficult years of treatment and uncertainty.“She never had to be told to study. In fact, we had to ask her to stop studying and rest,” he told news agency PTI/Joymangal Gan, who teaches political science at Taki House Government Sponsored Multipurpose Boys’ School, said Adrija was first treated at Tata Memorial Hospital before continuing treatment at Tata Cancer Hospital in Kolkata.“She underwent 82 chemotherapy sessions before going off treatment in June 2021. Even now, she has to undergo regular check-ups every year in Kolkata and Mumbai,” he said.During the most difficult phase of the treatment, her mother Jyoti Gan, a teacher at Belgharia Boys’ School, stayed with her in Mumbai.The family said the long treatment created emotional and financial pressure, but Adrija remained determined throughout.“I am proud not only of her results but also of the fight she has shown in life,” her father said.An arts stream student, Adrija studied Geography, Economics, Computer Applications and Psychology in Higher Secondary. She now wants to study Psychology and hopes to join Bethune College.According to her father, she wants to work in the field of mental health and contribute towards understanding depression and human behaviour.Apart from studies, Adrija enjoys singing and reading Bengali literature. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is among her favourite authors.Asked what message she would like to give to others facing similar struggles, Adrija said, “I want to keep trying. The effort itself matters the most.”
