Daughter of electrician scores state first rank

COIMBATORE: It was watching her parents toil day and night and sacrifice so many things so that they could pay her private school fee that inspired R Karthika, a student of Bishop Francis Matriculation School, who topped the state with a score of 499 out of 500 in the class 10 examinations.
M Ravichandran, an electrician who works with a textile firm, and his wife Dhanalakshmi, who works as a teacher in the Vellakinar anganwadi wanted to give their daughters a better life."We wanted to educate them enough so that they find jobs that do not require physical work but give a good, steady income so that they can live a better lifestyle," says Ravichandran. "We don't want them to live scrimping on money and making sacrifices throughout," he adds.
Ravichandran and his wife through the years often had to take up a few part-time jobs or borrow from friends to make ends meet, but it was all worth it, he said. "Both my daughters, Karthika and the younger one, study extremely well and top their classes. We knew she would score around 490, but 499 was a surprise," he said. "Her marks only inspire me to work harder and provide for her higher education," he said.
Her parents were in fact standing inside Vidya Vikas Matriculation School waiting to collect an application for class 11 for Karthika, when they heard that Vidya Vikas student Karthika R secured the state first rank. "Then too we parents were discussing that more than one student might have got the same marks. It was only 10 minutes later when we were collecting the application did Bishop Francis School call us to inform us that our daughter Karthika also scored the state first," said Ravichandran. "My wife and I hugged each other in joy and ran home to tell our daughter," he added.
However, Karthika, who burst into tears of surprise and joy when told about her marks by her father, says it is her parents who actually inspire her. "I always knew money was tight at home, but my parents made it a point to support me through the years with extra note books, worksheets, question banks, stationary and taking care of me while studying," she said. "I was never made to sacrifice or give up on anything that I needed for my studies," she added.
Despite scoring the state first marks, Karthika was cautious while opting for the science with biology group for class 11. "I want to do medicine, but with reservation and so much competition I don't know for sure if I will get a merit seat after class 12," she said. "If I do not get a merit seat, I will take up some other course that my parents can afford for me," she added.