City toppers attribute
success to parents, teachers
SHILLONG/TURA: A sense of euphoria engulfed St. Mary’s Higher Secondary and St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary schools as toppers in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) and Higher Secondary School Leaving School (HSSLC) shared their joy with their respective schools.
SSLC second rank holder, Darila Akor Kharmawphlang said she overcame hurdles and was inspired by her teachers to give her best.
Asked, she expressed interest to study humanities and later in the future plans to become a teacher.
Addressing the school assembly, she was applauded by her juniors in school and as a message to the young ones encouraging them to work hard.
Debraj Nag of Laban Bengalee Boys’ Higher Secondary School secured 19th position.
HSSLC Arts topper, Diana Kharbithai who switched from Science to Arts after one week said she would seek her teachers’ help if she encounters any problem and she credited her success to her teachers and parents.
She did not regret the decision to switch over to Arts and said she will take Economics as her major subject in degree and then go for a coaching centre to prepare for Civil Services. She was inspired when an IAS officer gave a speech at her school.
HSSLC Arts third rank holder, Alethea Phoebe Nongrum said she expected to top the exams. Stating that she remained focused on her studies, she did not go for tuition. Like Kharbithai, she aims to prepare for the Civil Services.
Neelam Kumari- Rank 1st position
A solitary ranger from her class of 44 students, for Neelam, success is routine. The sixteen year old teenager has brought pride not just to her school Embee Rosebud, but also for the entire Garo Hills region having secured the state’s highest position (No.1) in this year’s SSLC examinations.
The second in a family of three sisters, Neelam had a lot to shoulder during her class X days. She was the school prefect overseeing the activities of the entire students of the institution, attending her classes dedicatedly and returning home in time for some gardening and helping her mom in the kitchen.
“I love to work on different cuisines and mom knows best,” says Neelam proudly who is a fan of cricketers Virat Kohli and Shane Watson.
Jubiliant about her results she says, “My school teacher broke the news to me!”
She has a burning desire to join the medical fraternity and become a surgeon, “Medical care has always been close to my heart and I hope one day I can prove to be a good surgeon.”
A keen participant in many quiz competitions, she had also actively taken part in a quiz organised by the election Commission of India.
“What can I say. She has made everyone proud. She is a wonderful daughter,” says Neelam’s dad Narayan Prasad humbly. Both Narayan and Neelam’s mother Urmilla Devi are ecstatic by the news of their daughter’s success and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing at home.
Giving words of inspiration to the young minds of tomorrow who are appearing in different examinations, Neelam says, “One doesn’t have to study for long hours. What’s needed is quality studies. There should always be consistency. Aim high and stay focused.”
Shamim Islam – Rank 5
The toast of the plain belt of West Garo Hills this year, Shamim Islam of Bhaitbari HS School dedicated his success to his parents and teachers without whom, he felt, the result would not have been possible.
Shamim, the son of Nazmul Islam, was felicitated by his school today for his performance and said he was proud of what he achieved.
“Initially my preparations were a little slow but I picked up pace towards the end. I was confident of a top 20 finish but getting the 5th position was beyond our expectation,” said Shamim on the results. His serious preparations began after the selection exams.
Shamim planned to take up Science and Mathematics – two of his favourite subjects in St Anthony’s College in Shillong in his future. In his spare time he loves playing cricket and listening to music. He wants to pursue a medical career going forward.
Shreya Bhowmick – Rank 6 and Aishwarya Chatterjee – Rank 7
Competitive to a fault, friends Shreya Bhowmick and Aishwarya Chatterjee, said they were a little disappointed with their results and had expected to score more.
The two Sherwoodians said, who have set their sight on a study career outside the state, felt the sudden change in syllabus in Class X made things a little tougher. While Shreya will travel to Howrah in West Bengal, Aishwariya will move down South for further studies.
Shreya’s parents are both educationists, mother Dr Uma Roy Bhowmick is a lecturer at Don Bosco in the Education department and father, Samir Bhowmick is principal of CTE at Rongkhon, Tura. Aishwarya’s father Gautam Chaterjee is a contractor while her mother is a home maker.
“The course for Science needs to be modernised as in its current form it is vague. The syllabus is vast but vague,” felt her father Samir Bhowmick.
“It is not the hours that you put in but how you use those hours that matters. We studied about 5 hours in the run up to the exams,” said the friends.
Both friends attributed the support of their parents, teachers, well wishers for their success.
Shreya wants to be a doctor in future while Aishwarya wants to pursue engineering.
Pratik Kumar Dev -Rank 8
The 16-year-old is an avid basketball player and has continued his passion for the game while working on his studies. The son of an insurance commissioner with LIC and a home maker, Pratik said he put in a lot of hard work prior to the exams and was very happy with the result.
“I spent close to 10 hours every day engrossed in studies with my mother encouraging me all the way to do my best. Without my parents’ support and that of my teachers and friends – who continued to coax me to do my best,” said Pratik – another Sherwood school student.
Pratik comes with an impressive 5’9’ frame and wanted to try and get into the IITs. He will look to join the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tura for his higher secondary studies.
Jimbirth Ch Momin: Sixteen-year-old Jimberth is the first student of Stephen Memorial School to make it to the state’s top twenty position. Son of a policeman, Jimberth has dreams of becoming an electrical engineer. He meticulously prepared for his SSLC examinations giving ample time for his books. According to his father, Jimberth had a daily routine for studies and he has exceeded all his parents’ expectations with the results. Despite the hectic schedule of classes soccer is never far behind for this youth athlete who takes every opportunity to kick a few shots to the net.
Mohima Modak- Rank 16
Mohima (16) wants to make medicine her career in life and has made every effort in that direction. “I have always wanted to be a doctor,” says the young girl who has made St. Xavier’s School proud with her results. The eldest among three girls in her family she is also a keen sportsperson who loves to play basketball.
Janovi Hajong – Rank 17
When it comes to education, Tikrikilla is a less known factor. However that all changed this year with one of its young residents, Janovi Hajong doing the lesser known town proud by ranking 17th in the SSLC merit list.
“I didn’t expect to be in the top 20. My family, my school, my teachers and the town are all feeling proud of what I have achieved,” said Janovi.
The young girl said she did not plan too far ahead and would for now only look at completing her graduation from Shillong before taking a decision on her future. She added that she enjoyed playing badminton and loved music and books.
“I spent 3-4 hours every day with my books prior to the exams,” she added. Her father is a sectional officer in PHE, Tikrikilla, Falgun Hajong.
Aswin Upadhaya- Rank 17
Aeroville Secondary School’s lone topper Aswin (16) wants to play an important role in human resource management. Hailing from Hawakhana and only son of his parents, Aswin strongly believes human resources are extremely crucial for development of one’s country and he is keen to play a role in that.
Sanskriti Agarwal-
Rank 18
Sanskriti of Sherwood School has a dream to one day see clothes designed by her being totted on the hottest ramps of the country. The 16 year old loves dancing and singing and dabbles in art. “The youngest among our three children she has made all of us proud,” says her father Ramesh kumar Agarwala.
Madhurima Debnath – Rank 20
Another Sherwoodian in this year’s merit board, Madhurima was initially disappointed with the marks she secured and felt she could have done much better.
The daughter of Shillong Times assistant manager, Ramadhan Debnath, Madhurima will continue her studies from Don Bosco higher secondary School in Guwahati after which she has her sights on becoming a cardiologist.
She too credited the hard work done by her parents, teachers and former school mates for her success adding that she would continue to work on her goal in the future as well.
A voracious reader she has a line up of books by several famous authors. “My favourite is John Green’s ‘The fault in one’s stars’ which gave me a lot of insight into life,” says the young girl. When not seriously reading, she does indulge occasionally on watching soccer matches.
“Stay away from phones, don’t lose hope and give your very best,” is Madhurima’s advice to her juniors.