Ilhaam Ashraf has just completed her grade 12 from National Public School, Koramangala, Bangalore and is on her way to fulfilling her ambition of becoming a neurosurgeon. Public health delivery in Indian villages is extremely poor and
Ilhaam plans to use her medical education for this population.

As a passionate debater Ilhaam loves engaging with varied ideas and perspectives and the multiple realities that they unfold. She has been the winner of major state level debate competitions and has cleared advance grades in the Trinity
communication exams also. She captures this rainbow of ideas in her writing too; she has been Editor of the school magazine and nurtures a dream of authoring a bestseller someday. Theatre is another means of expression for her
and she has acted in several plays during her school days. The magical worlds of books are her getaway from mundane life, as also the source for comprehending life itself. Her list of favourites range from Calvin and Hobbes to books by
Malcolm Gladwell and Hugo Prather, each enticing her with its different space to explore gleefully.

During her free time she volunteers in the school for the differently abled run by The Spastic Society of Karnataka in Bangalore. She is “Akka” (elder sister) to them and their achievements her source of inspiration as well as pride.