SHILLONG: An aspiring nun of the Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (VSDB), Hunmon Mukhim from Hubert Memorial Higher Secondary School, brought laurels to the school as she bagged the sixth position in Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC).
It is the first time that the school, situated at Umpling, made its way to the HSSLC top list.
As Mukhim, a native of Padu in West Jaintia Hills, was away in VSDB Umkadhor, Ri Bhoi, principal Bibiana Nongsiej made a video call to Mukhim to interact with reporters.
Mukhim said she was overjoyed over the news. “I studied as per my capacity. I did my best by studying everyday and I managed to pass,” she added.
Having studied in a rural school, Ka Syiem Jingsuk Secondary School, Amlarem, she observed the transformation from a rural studying environment to an urban one has changed her as it made her to reason more.
“There are many differences. In rural areas, schools do not have many facilities. Most of them speak in Khasi and not English,” she said, adding that she made it a point to study every in the evening when she can concentrate.
Studying in Hubert Memorial Higher Secondary School made her understand more about English but she smiled and said, “It is still confusing now.”
Aiming to become a nun, she said, “I will later look for secular studies.”
Meanwhile, Nongsiej said that though Mukhim is still struggling in English, she is a hardworking student.
Stating that Mukhim was inspired by VSDB nuns who worked at Amlarem, Nongsiej said, “After coming to an urban school, she did not change her simple nature, she speaks only when she is spoken to. But she has become courageous as earlier she was shy of taking part in the morning or the afternoon assembly.”
Nongsiej said that most students who come from rural areas struggle to speak in English but credited to the dedication of the teachers for making the students understand the subject better.
