NOOROLAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA High school student had a big dream of getting into university. But everything was ruined by her final math exam. When she saw the results, she immediately got up and ran into the school’s storage room. There, she tied a long piece of fabric to the ceiling, put a noose around her neck, stood on a bucket, and jumped down. However, death did not occur from a broken neck as the young woman likely intended. Instead, the fabric stretched, and she suffocated on her knees for several minutes. She was found about an hour later, a time long enough that her vital functions could no longer be restored.
The student
Her parents initially claimed they were sure their daughter had been murdered. They were likely feeling guilty themselves for putting pressure on her to get into university and making it a top priority in her upbringing. But their theory was disproven by forensic experts.
After this realization, her parents also refused to accept the truth and began blaming everyone around them. They gathered a crowd and attacked the school, which they said had harsh grading standards. They burned a total of four classrooms and injured several school staff members.
This heart-wrenching event is a stark reminder that mental health and emotional well-being must be placed above test scores and academic rankings. No grade is worth a life. Let this young girl’s story be a call to action for parents, educators, and students alike: to foster compassion, to ease the burden of unrealistic expectations, and to remind every student that their worth is never defined by a number on a report card.
If you’re thinking about suicide, please stop and recognize that your pain is not permanent, but this step would be. It may feel like there’s no other way, but there is hope, even if it’s hard to see right now. Your feelings are temporary, and with help, they can pass.
Talking about what you're going through might feel difficult, but it’s the first step toward healing. Don’t turn away from the people who want to support you. Life can offer more than what you're feeling right now, and the pain doesn't have to last forever. You deserve help, and it’s available.
If you need immediate help, please contact a helpline.
