TURA: For success the mantra is clearly hard work with a dash of inspiration, believes this year’s Meghalaya topper in the Matric Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination, Chetna Bose of Sherwood School Tura.
“I have been inspired by previous years’ toppers from my very own school. When I saw their success, I too wanted to be just like them; perhaps, better,” said a jubilant Chetna while speaking to The Shillong Times shortly after she found out that she had secured the state’s top position in the examination, on Monday.
Eldest daughter of Chandrajit Bose and Duggirala Sesi, both of whom are teachers in colleges in Tura, Chetna advises young students about the perils of shortcuts to try and attain success.
“From personal experience, I can tell that last minute preparations yield absolutely no results at the end. One has to study every single day so as to cover the syllabus efficiency, without causing tension to themselves before the examinations,” she adviced.
Chetna’s father Chandrajit Bose, head of English department in Durama college of Tura, for once is at a loss for words.
“What more can I say. We have seen our daughter strive very hard in her studies and it has paid rich dividends for her. We are extremely happy,” says a visibly moved Chandrajit Bose.
A voracious reader of all genres (both fiction and non-fiction), Chetna reveals her interest for note gathering and her love for jotting down her experience on reading books and watching films as a means to analyse the subject. Her favourite recreational activity is playing basketball.
Fascinated with the various equations of physics, the formulas of chemistry and the theorems of mathematics, Chetna is intent on joining the science stream and making a mark in the world of science.
Her school principal, Tyrone D Brass of Sherwood School, attributed the success of his student to years of grooming by the school and its teachers and the important role played by family, particularly parents. “It was teamwork,” he says.
“All of them have contributed in some way to her success. Her success has been consistent all throughout her studies. The seed that was planted in Kindergarten has borne fruit and she has rewarded us by her ultimate success in the SSLC,” an elated principal D’Brass tells us.
The Shillong Times was able to connect to the two other toppers from Garo Hills- 10th position holder, Vicky Seal of Sacred Heart Secondary School, Williamnagar and 12th ranked, Rakibul Hazarika of Janapriya Higher Secondary School, Bholarbita.
Both position holders are sons of school teachers. While Vicky Seal is the son of Trabadh Kumar Seal, a teacher in his own school, Rakibul Hazarika is the son of retired school teacher, Abdul Gani Hazarika and housewife, Nurima Begum.
Vicky Seal, who believes that his success is the result of hardwork plans to be an Engineer in future. On the other hand, Rakibul Hazarika hopes to be a doctor one day. The later attributes his success to both his parents and teachers especially, tution teacher, Ishadur Mondal and Mathematics teacher, Abdul Kalam.
Rakibul, who goes by the motto ‘No pain, No Gain’ in his advice to other students has urged them to work hard and give the maximum effort. Similarly, Vicky also says that hard work is the secret to success and stresses on detailed preparation and to cover everything without leaving anything out.
Another topper from a private institution in Garo Hills, Nilanjana Das (19th position) was also among the merit list, however she was unable to be contacted.