Kevinstrong Lawriniang of St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Mairang comes from a humble rural background, but that didn’t stop him from topping this year SSLC examination conducted by MBOSE scoring 96 per cent.
His mother works in the field while his father is a stay-at-home parent suffering from arthritis for ten years.
Topping the list was not a dream he had but accepted the fact in awe this morning when the results were declared. Under home isolation being infected with Covid, Kevinstrong spoke to Highland Post over phone and dedicated his success to God, his parents and teachers.
“We are a poor family but I am overjoyed because this has not prevented me from working hard. I had difficulties…I had problems but these are all just phases because God shows the way,” he said.
Asked if he wanted to pursue studies outside his home, Kenvinstrong said he would take up Science and wished to get admission in Mairang.
He also shared a message of hope for fellow students saying, “I don’t matter if we come from poor families, because I know we will face difficulties; I have faced and facing it. In life we will have thorns and stumbling blocks, but it is only through faith, hope, courage and hard work that we can reach our goal and succeed.”
Kevinstrong’s mantra in studies is, “What you read concentrate. Without concentration studying for long hours will not help.”
Vice Principal of the school, Sister Cecilia Kujur appreciated Kevingstrong’s achievement and applauded the hard work and discipline exhibited by him all through the years.
She said Kevinstrong and Queen Annable Ann Basaiawmoit (tenth rank holder from the same school) are humble and responsible students of the school.
“We were expecting to get rank holders, but we never expected to top the list,” Sr. Kujur said, adding, “It is all hard work and cooperation between students and teachers that bore fruits. I am grateful that God kept them healthy.”
Circumstances are quite different between Kevinstrong and third-placed Mridumay Saha, of Sherwood School in Tura.
The son of a chemistry professor of Don Bosco College in Tura and headmistress of another school, Mridumay’s family has a passion for education.
Sherwood School produced several of the top 20 students and Mridumay wishes to study information and communications. He scored 574 out of a possible 600
and thanked his parents and teachers for the support. He confesses to giving in long hours to cope with his studies, sometimes doing 14 to 16 hours of studies in a day. He relaxes by playing the guitar.
Mridumay joined a college in Guwahati for his higher education where he wishes to pursue Science.
