“Cutting off from social media while residing in the hostel of my school help me in this remarkable success in the HSE 2024, amid turmoil in Manipur since the last one year,” said Thokchom Sheityajit, topper of HSE 2024 (Arts) undertaken by COHSEM.
Sheityajit, son of Th Nobochand and Karam Reena of Kongpal in Imphal East from EK Higher secondary School topped the examination in the Arts stream by achieving an impressive score of 95.4 per cent (477 out of 500).
Despite passing his matriculation examination with distinction from St. Joseph School, he did not secure any ranks or positions. However, his dedication and perseverance paid off, culminating in his unexpected triumph as the state topper in the HSE.
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Therefore, becoming a state topper in the HSE was a delightful surprise for him, as told by Sheityajit to the media during an interaction at his residence soon after the declaration of the result.
He said, “Announcing me as the topper of the Arts stream was like a dream for me. I never expected it, though I expect a top 10.”
When asked about his plans, Sheityajit expressed his ambition to pursue Common University Entrance Test and pursue History Honours at Delhi University to become a teacher and later write for civil services examination conducted by the UPSC to become a civil servant.
According to Sheityajit, a teacher is an important figure in a society, which can lead the youth in the right path and civil servant is very important in bringing a change in the society.
The aspirations for becoming a civil servant stemmed from a desire to serve his community, particularly in addressing the dearth of civil servants among the Meetei community, he explained.
While private tuition and coaching has become a common trend in Manipur, Sheityajit eventually relied solely on his school education and did not take any private tuition as he is residing in the hostel run at the school campus.
“The lectures and the reading materials provided by my school teachers and the books prescribed by the COHSEM were more than sufficient. On average I study for around four to five hours alone, maybe in bed, under trees or anywhere where there is privacy,” he said, revealing his method of preparation for the examination.
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Like average of the toppers, Sheityajit is not a student who is confined with only school text books. Apart from studies, he revealed that he reads magazines and books on different cultures and ethnicities of India, listen to Manipur folk music and roam with his friends in his parents moped before his stay in the hostel.
Grateful for the support he received from his teachers, Sheityajit credited his success to the dedicated faculty of EK Higher Secondary School, where he studied.
He also expressed his gratitude to his father who runs a grocery shop and his mother who is a clerk at the Veterinary Department for their unwavering support throughout his academic journey.
Acknowledging the ongoing unrest in Manipur, Sheityajit expressed his sadness at the situation stating, “I feel very sorry” but urged fellow students not to be deterred, emphasising their role as future leaders responsible for societal change.
“Work hard and never give up,” said Sheityajit offering a message of encouragement to all his juniors.
