By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 20: As it celebrated its Graduation Day on Friday, St Anthony’s College felicitated outstanding students who have excelled in their respective fields of study.
The college presented awards to 128 rank holders, 23 gold medalists in undergraduate programmes, and four in postgraduate programmes.
Six faculty members who completed their PhDs were also felicitated.
Director of School Education and Literacy Swapnil Tembe lauded the awardees for their achievement and encouraged them to strive.
Tembe shared his experience and said that during counseling sessions many would ask how it is possible to get into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) since there are only 150 vacancies each year with around 20 lakh applicants.
According to him, people should not look at the 20 lakh figure but focus on one out of the 150 seats that are there.
“What is important is to change our outlook and to stay positive,” Tembe said.
The college also distributed the annual academic awards to honor top achievers from various disciplines.
Graduate shares inspiring story
Among the graduates at St Anthony’s College on Friday, the story of Skhemboklang Lyting is an inspiration for many.
Skhemborlang secured 72 percent in BA in Philosophy from St Anthony’s Evening College.
While interacting with media persons after the programme, he said that his mother, the sole breadwinner of the family, ran a small roadside kwai shop at Dhankheti and worked in people’s homes to make ends meet.
Eldest among four siblings, Lynting helped his mother and bore responsibilities from a young age.
He revealed that he had dropped out of school for four years due to financial problems.
These interruptions forced him to put his studies on hold to assist his mother, he added.
“I managed to resume my studies due to the evening school and college. I could not do well in my Class 12 examination, however, I remained determined to continue my education,” he said.
It may be mentioned Skhemboklang’s opportunity to get back into the academic journey came when he heard about St. Anthony’s College’s Evening College, the initiative aimed at students from financially weak backgrounds with low academic percentages but a keen desire to study.
“I felt like it was God’s grace’.
Skhemboklang joined the Department of Philosophy at St. Anthony’s College (Evening College) and overcame significant financial and personal hardships. He had to balance working as a newspaper vendor and running a small shop with his studies.
Despite losing his mother to cancer during his second year of college, Skhemboklang continued his education, joining St Anthony’s College Centre for Entrepreneurship Innovation and Incubation and expanding his small business into multiple ventures.
His younger brother is currently pursuing his master’s degree at NEHU, and Skhemboklang has made the selfless decision to focus on supporting him.
Skhemborlang became the guiding figure for his siblings, encouraging them to work hard and understand the value of money.
“I have decided not to pursue my Post Graduate as I need to support my two younger sisters who are studying Class VII and IX,” Skhemboklang added.