City toppers share their secret of success

By Rachana Ramesh | NT

Bengaluru: Twenty five students from Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South districts scored cent percent marks in this year’s SSLC examination, the results of which were announced on Thursday. Four of them shared their study secrets with News Trail.

‘Teachers stood by me’: Rutu Amol, Talathi Camlin High School RPC Layout
By practising self study along with the elder sister’s academic assistance, Rutu Amol Thalathi secured 100 percent. She aims to become a software engineer and wants to study at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). “The online and offline inconsistencies caused a little problems but my teachers always clarified whatever doubts I had, which was a great help,” she said. She likes science because she finds it interesting and resents the pandemic for not letting her school conduct cocurricular activities in which she could take part in. When asked to pick a favourite teacher, she thought it was her maths teacher at first but quickly switched her answer to the favourite being the English teacher. After a good long pause, she said it’s not either of them and that she couldn’t pick a favourite.

‘School helped me a lot’: Mohammed Ashiq S, Goodwill English High School Hegganahally
Hailing originally from Mangaluru, Mohammed Ashiq S said he was confident he would score full marks and is beyond happy to see his expectations fulfilled. “I did not take any help from outside. Whatever extra coaching that was required was provided by the school alone. Even during the exam times, I went to school to study,” he said. While there were gaps in his learning that were caused due to online classes, once classes resumed the school helped him catch up with the basics. Ashiq wants to further pursue a Bachelor’s degree in technology and hopes to get a Master’s degree too. “It is not something my family wants me to pursue but something I voluntarily want to do. What’s the point in pursuing a degree you have no interest in? Won’t it be a waste?” he questioned. His favourite subject is Maths but his favourite teacher teaches science. Painting was a way for him to channel relaxation but he had stopped doing so in order to study. He now can’t wait to get back on the art wagon.

‘I like online classes’: Hemanth S Gowda, Soundarya High School Nagasandra
He expected to score above 98 but did not expect cent per cent. “Along with the school work, my aunt and brother helped me with my studies,” he said. Hemanth liked when the classes were conducted online and said it provided him with more time to study since he stayed home and did not have to travel. He wants to pursue chartered accountancy for a career and is going to pick the commerce field to help him do so in his pre-university. He likes the subjects Maths and Science, and has a favourite teacher ‘Sir Ellen’. He would go to classical music classes but has now discontinued and plays cricket or cycles in his free time. “My friends are beyond joyous and keep congratulating me. But all they want is a treat,” he giggled.

‘Offline classes were relieving’: B Jayasri. Sri Vidya Mandira High School Malleswaram
She was expecting 620 marks, so her joy knew no bounds when got cent percent. Her family, friends and relatives are happier than she is, Jayasri said. While during the online classes she faced a few network connectivity issues, the transition from online and offline was smooth and relieving, she said. Jayasri wants to be a chartered accountant. “It’s my parents wish and mine too,” she said. She sings, plays the piano and likes to draw. She also takes professional violin classes and continued to take them even when her exams were nearing. She loves to read books too and does not mind dipping her feet in both the realms of fiction and nonfiction. She likes Agatha Christie and likes Chetan Bhagat among Indian authors. She also enjoys keeping up with current affairs and the news.