Students of Chennai Schools, D. Anandhi, S. Suganthi, L. Pavithra and R. Divya, who have scored well in the State Board Class X Examination, were honoured with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 by the Rotary Club of Madras (East) on June 13. The cash prizes were distributed to the students by television anchor Gopinath.
D. Anandhi, who has scored 490, is a student of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Saidapet. “Daily revision of lessons helped in preparing for the examination. Constant support and encouragement from parents, teachers and principal helped me to score well.” Talking about her future plans, she said, “I want to become an IAS officer after completing engineering and MBA. I want to serve the people by becoming a civil servant.”
Second rank holder Suganthi, who scored 488 marks out of 500, wants to join IIT. “After completing engineering at IIT, I want to become an IAS officer and serve the nation,” she said. Suganthi is a student of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, M.H. Road.
Third-rank holder L. Pavithra, who scored 486 marks, said that she also wanted to become a civil servant. She is a student of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School, Saidapet. “There was no pressure from my parents. I should thank my teachers and parents for their support,” says Pavithra. R. Divya, who lives on Govindappa Naicken Street, near Flower Bazaar, for the past eight years studied under street lights. Living with her grandmother, who rides a fish cart to eke out a living, she has emerged as a school topper. She is a student of Chennai High School, Walltax Road.
Speaking on the occasion, Gopinath said that the students have proved that the standard of education in Chennai Scools has improved. .
“They have proved to students hailing from marginalised section of society that the latter can emerge as toppers. They have become role-models for other students,”he said.
Parents should not impose their views regarding education and career options on children. They should be allowed to decide what they want to become when they grow up, he added. N.S. Udayakumar, president, Rotary Club of Madras East, welcomed the gathering.