Doing mommy proud: 2 girls make it to Kingfisher crew

Ludhiana: Two struggles finally met success when a few days ago Kingfisher Airways hired Priyanka Joshi and Akanksha Puri as air hostesses. But what is common to both the success stories is that fact that both the girls owe it to their mothers.
Akanksha says her mother helped her choose this as a career and gave her the initial lessons in grooming.
Priyanka’s father, Rakesh Joshi, works as a junior telecom officer with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. Priyanka, 19, was raised in Bara Pind village near Gurayan, which falls under Jalandhar’s Phillaur subdivision.
“I didn’t study in an English medium school. I was an introvert and would find it difficult to converse with people. But I was determined to fulfil my mother’s dream and spent hours either speaking in front of the mirror or with my grandmother, who encouraged me to talk to her though she didn’t understand a word of English,” says Priyanka Joshi.
Says Savita Chadha, centre head at Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training, Mall Road, Ludhiana, “I still remember the day she kept standing outside my room for more than 15 minutes gathering courage to speak to me. But all that is history. She is all set to join Kingfisher Airways in Mumbai now”.
Akanksha, too, credits her parents and the institute for her success.
“My parents have supported me all through the last one year. Initially, I was confused about my career but my mother guided me. I was a reserved girl and lacked the will power and confidence to become an air hostess. But my determination and the lessons I got at the institute paved the way for this journey in air,” says Akanksha.
05/02/08 Ludhiana Newsline/Sameer Kumar Sharma