Daughters of a doctor couple and a flower vendor have made Palayamkottai proud once again, as they got the State first rank in the just declared Secondary School Leaving Certificate examination results.
S. Aarthy of Rose Mary Matriculation Higher Secondary School (Main), Palayamkottai and M. Muthu Veni of St. Joseph’s Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Jawahar Nagar here, with their score of 499 out of 500, have secured the State first rank. While Ms. Aarthy had lost just one mark in English, Ms. Muthu Veni’s 99 in Social Science denied her the total of 500 by a whisker.
Though Merrin K. Varghese of Hilton Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Old Courtallam in the Western Tirunelveli district scored centum in all five subjects, she was not considered for the State rank as her first language was Sanskrit.
Like any other topper, Ms. Aarthy and Ms. Muthu Veni vow to work hard to realize their dream of becoming doctors to serve the poor.
Both the toppers, besides sacrificing even small pleasures, have worked really hard in their homes on returning from their schools where they had to sit for tests everyday on previous days’ lessons. At times, Ms. Muthu Veni has also helped her father Muthukrishnan, who has passed only 4th standard, in getting the flowers ready for the day’s sale on the streets of NGO Colony and adjoining areas.
Producing State toppers in the public examinations is not something new to Rose Mary Matriculation Higher Secondary School as this school has produced toppers in the Plus Two and SSLC examinations on several occasions in the past. Hence, the celebrations on the school premises were a low key affair.
However, the joy and emotions overflowing on the premises of St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School after one of their students became a topper could be quite understandable. The celebrations were going on even after noon with Ms. Muthu Veni being honoured with garlands, warm hugs and kisses from reverend sisters, teachers and friends.
Apart from these two toppers, the district has produced 4 State second rank-holders and 28 third rankers.
