They probably have different stories of hard work and sacrifice to narrate, but all of them became part of a common success story on Friday. They were first rank holders in different streams of the State Board class X examinations among students who studied Tamil as first language.
M. Minnaladevi, daughter of a village postman and student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Cheyyar, was one of the first rank holders in the S.S.L.C. stream.
Though she studied in a private matriculation school until class V, she was shifted to the government school in VI standard as her father A. Mohan was not able to pay her fees.
“I have no words to express my happiness. I had not helped her in any big way. This is entirely her result and her success,” Mr. Mohan told The Hindu. Minnaladevi obtained a score of 98 in Tamil and English and secured 100 in the three other subjects.
Speaking to the reporters in Tiruvannamalai Collector's chamber, she said: “My teachers gave me special attention and made us take several revision tests. While my parents always emphasised the importance of education, they never put undue pressure on me.”
Minnaladevi, who has done the educationally backward Tiruvannamalai district proud, is the first State topper from this part, according to sources in the Collectorate.
M. Nithya, who has made Sacred Heart Girls' Higher Secondary School, Srivilliputtur, proud by securing the first rank in SSLC examination in the State, is an all-rounder. She is good at elocution, sports and dance.
A topper in class since childhood, Nithya was inspired by the State first rank holder in public examination when she was in eighth standard. “I dreamt of being at the top then. And my hard work has paid off,” said the aspiring doctor.
Nithya's Tamil teacher, A. Angela Mary, could not hide her ecstasy. She was behind the girl securing first place in the State-level essay writing competition held in connection with Arignar Anna birth centenary celebrations. She got Rs. 35,000 and a gold medal from the then Deputy Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin. “This made her believe in herself and now she has made us proud,” the teacher said.
Harini R. of Our Ladys Higher Secondary School, Thiruvottiyur, never went for tuitions. Her mother, a mathematics teacher in a government school along with her colleagues, helped her. “I would complete my homework to get into my next task,” says Harini, an aspiring aeronautical engineer.
For S. Ramya of Gurukulam Higher Secondary School at Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, the SSLC results came as a surprise. “I thought I would get a good score in the examinations. But, I never imagined that I will be sharing the top spot at the State level,” she said.
Ramya scored 496 marks out of 500 to become the State topper in SSLC examinations.
She thanked her teachers and parents for supporting and encouraging her during the preparations. “The school provided excellent support to prepare for the exams,” she said.
Ramya said that she would choose Mathematics and Biology in higher secondary as she was planning to pursue medicine. “It is my dream to become a cardiologist,” she said.
S. Sangeetha of S.R.M. Muthamil Higher Secondary School at Periyeri near Attur in Salem district, who scored 496 in the SSLC examinations, is the daughter of a farmer, Sakthivel. She wants to become the first doctor in her family. “I owe my performance to my parents and teachers,” Sangeetha told The Hindu .
Sangeetha said she and her parents used to toil on their rain-fed lands on which they cultivated chillies and brinjals. “But, my parents provided all necessary help to pursue my studies.” In her total of 496, she scored centum in Maths and Science. Her other scores are: Tamil- 98, English-99 and Social Science - 99.
Matriculation stream
Hard work and a planned approach helped S. Harshini Shree of B.V.B. Matriculation Higher Secondary School emerged one of the toppers in the matriculation stream. She scored 493 marks to share the first rank with two other students. “My parents never forced me to study. They gave me complete freedom,” she said.
Harshini wants to pursue architecture after completing her higher secondary. “I developed interest in architecture when I learnt painting,” she said.
Another topper M. Anitha (493 marks) of Senthil Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Dharmapuri wants to become a cardiologist.
Anitha's father K. Mani is a Head Constable at the Police Control Room in Dharmapuri town. She dedicated the success in the examinations to her school and extremely understanding parents.
R. Jeyabharathy, who also wants to become a doctor, is student of Kongu Vellalar Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Vellakoil. She also secured the first rank. “I used to prepare for about five hours every day,” she said.
Anglo Indian
The State-level first-rank holder in Anglo-Indian stream Nikita Christopher whose total of 486 includes centums in Mathematics and Science intends to pursue Bio-Maths group in higher secondary.
Daughter of college professors Sheela Christopher and Samuel Christopher, Nikita, a cricket enthusiast, ensured that the World Cup matches she watched with keen interest even during the course of examinations did not deter performance.
Nikita said a planned schedule of study without much exertion saw her through, and attributed her success to the grace of God and parental support.
K. Supriya of Oriental Higher Secondary, Thanjavur and A. Rumana Aafrin of U.H.Oriental Arabic Girls Higher Secondary School, Pallapatti, secured the first ranks in the O.S.L.C. stream.
(With Inputs from R. Arivanandam, A.D. Balasubramaniyan, R. Ilangovan, R. Krishnamoorthy, Liffy Thomas, S. Ramesh, S. Sundar and R. Vimalkumar)
