Ria Thokchom of Heritage Convent, Uripok Bachaspati Leikai, Imphal West, who secured the first position in the class 12 exam in science stream conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary School (COHSEM) for the year 2023, dreams of becoming a civil servant one day and has appealed for peace in the violence-hit state.
Ria Thokchom, who hails from Heingang Mayai Leikai is the daughter of Sophia Ngangom and Thokchom Romeo Singh.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Ria expressed gratitude to her parents, family, friends and her teachers at Heritage Convent for helping her achieve the incredible feat.
“I am overjoyed with results; I expected to secure a position but never thought I would secure the first rank. I extend my gratitude to all the people who have helped me in my academic journey,” she said.
Expressing her desire to become a capable civil servant one day, she stated that she wanted to leave a respectable legacy and serve the people with utmost integrity.
She claimed that she did not take extra coaching classes while preparing for the COHSEM class 12 exam and mentioned that she only took extra coaching classes for Physics, Chemistry and higher Mathematics during class 9 and 10.
"But I could not finish the coaching courses due to the Covid pandemic; other than that, I have never attended coaching classes in my entire academic career," she added.
She said she studied for nearly 15 hours when school classes were off and studied four to five hours a day during regular school days at home. "My teachers and parents also helped me with my studies," she added.
“My teachers helped me clear any doubts I had and the school environment also aided in my studies; our school incorporated new technology to enhance the learning experience of students such as digital boards to upgrade the visual learning capabilities of the students,” she said.
She maintained that coaching classes were mandatory for every student and should be taken to strengthen the weak subjects.
She further expressed her desire to continue her studies at Delhi University and stated that she had not decided on the subject stream for her graduation yet.
“I have to give it more thought and decide; I will arrive at a final verdict once I clear the Common University Entrance Test (CUET),” she said.
Commenting on the prevailing tense situation in the state, Ria stated that the whole situation had triggered immense distress among students and hence urged authorities concerned to restore proper academic atmosphere for students in the state.
“As students, it is truly painful to go through such a traumatic situation. So, I request the government to usher peace and restore normalcy in the state,” she said.
Giving tips to students preparing for the COHSEM exam, Ria advised the students to study meticulously, set achievable goals, take proper guidance from teachers and maintain good hygiene.
“Without good health there is no use of wealth,” she said.
Meanwhile Ria’s father Thokchom Romeo highlighted that Ria’s academic performance had been exceptional since an early age.
“She was a top student in all her classes at Heritage Convent and even continued her class 9, 10, 11 and 12 on school scholarships at Heritage Convent,” he said.
He stated that he and his wife had always helped with Ria’s studies and always encouraged her to constantly revise what she had learned. This made her to skip coaching classes, he added.
“In today’s examination model of education, perfect presentation is everything. As such, I have always encouraged my daughter to be aware of her writing and presentation skills,” he said.
He further pointed out that he encouraged Ria to read motivational stories of great personalities who overcame vast barriers to achieve their goals.
Romeo also maintained that both him and his wife sacrificed their time to Ria’s physical and mental well-being.
If we want our kids to succeed, we have to make time and help them achieve their goals, he added.
Also Read: Manipur class-12 examination 2023 results declared amid unrest
