Not just academics for this topper

Positive environment and absence of pressure helped, says Karthik Balaji

May 03, 2019 12:47 am | Updated 12:47 am IST - CHENNAI

CHENNAI : TAMILNADU : 02/05/2019 : FOR CITY : Karthik Balaji of PSBB K.K.Nagar whoscored 497/500 in the CBSE class 12 examination seen with his parents in Chennai on Thursday 02nd May 2019. Photo: K. Pichumani/ The Hindu

CHENNAI : TAMILNADU : 02/05/2019 : FOR CITY : Karthik Balaji of PSBB K.K.Nagar whoscored 497/500 in the CBSE class 12 examination seen with his parents in Chennai on Thursday 02nd May 2019. Photo: K. Pichumani/ The Hindu

Less than a month before the Class XII board examinations, G. Karthik Balaji was immersed in preparing for and participating in the Asian Regional Space Settlement Design Competition, after having won the Indian National Space Settlement Design Competition with a team from his school a few months before that.

“When the first photos of a black hole were released, I was extremely excited,” said the student of PSBB Senior Secondary School in K.K. Nagar.

Having scored 497 marks out of 500, Karthik has found a place among the 23 national toppers in the board exam results that were announced on Thursday. From space research to captaining the cricket team of his school till Class XI, it has not just been about academics for this student.

Stating that he has varied interests, Karthik said he ensured he caught up on English T.V. shows and kept up to date with his favourite sports.

“It was not just about academics in the last few months and there was no pressure. This, coupled with having a positive environment around me, helped me focus,” he said. With full marks in both mathematics and chemistry, he scored 99 in physics, computer science and English.

‘Revision exams helped’

“I had been preparing and writing a few entrance exams in the months leading up to the board exams as well and this helped me in keeping in touch with all chapters across subjects. I also realised that it was important to be strong in all the basic concepts and writing revision exams certainly helped,” Karthik said.

While he is interested in pursuing engineering, Karthik is also enthused about the pure sciences.

“I secured an All India Rank of 584 in the Kishore Vaigyanik” Protsahan Yojana (KVPY) scholarship exam. I will soon take a decision on what to do,” said the topper, surrounded by his jubilant family.

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