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DIMAPUR — As the results for High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education was announced last week, 16-year-old Barfu Daimari found her name in the list of toppers.
Scoring an impressive 95.17%, she shared the 20th spot in the toppers list with eight other students from various schools across the state.
Daimari's story is particularly inspiring given her humble background. Despite her father working as an autorickshaw driver, she never faced ridicule from her peers. Instead, she became a sought-after study companion, as she generously helped her classmates with their academics.
As the middle child with two sisters, she resides with her parents in a modest bamboo-thatched home in Dimapur. However, the relentless noise from the nearby roadside presented its own set of challenges. As the din from outside grew louder during this interaction, she simply smiled and said that she has made a habit out of it now.
From her early school days, the Greenwood School student demonstrated a consistent record of achieving 1st to 10th rankings.
Guided by her mother's disciplined approach to studying, she and her two sisters adhered to a structured timetable, instilling work ethic from a young age.
Daimari admitted that she was confident about her results and immediately checked the toppers’ list for her name. She said that finding her name on the list, made her feel incredibly confident and happy. It was a moment of triumph for her and her family, as her mother reacted by saying: "Your father's wish has come true!”
Her class teacher, Nungshitola, noted that she demonstrated consistency from the beginning of the school year, and not just when the board exam approached. It was her dedication which set her apart from her peers, the teacher noted.
For Daimari, the pursuit of academic success was not without challenges. Leading up to the exams, she battled stress and sacrificed sleep. Yet, with the support of her elder sister, who would give her study tips, and a disciplined study routine, she persevered.
During the exam days, after completing a paper at noon, she would return home and resume studying from 1:00 pm until 10:00 pm, with intermittent breaks throughout the study session.
Whenever she felt unmotivated or fatigued, she turned to motivational interviews on YouTube featuring individuals like IAS officer Akshat Jain and UPSC coach Dr. Tanu Jain, drawing inspiration from their stories to reignite her determination to study harder. She also expressed gratitude to one of the reverends from her church -- Kachari Baptist Church -- whose prayers, she said provided her with constant support and encouragement.
Prior to her exam, Daimari earned a spot in the ‘Star Coaching’ institute through her mathematics teacher, Pradhan, who, after seeing her performance in the mid-term exams, nominated her for the programme. This decision was influenced by the regret he felt over her elder sister missing out on the toppers’ list by a narrow margin. Determined to see her excel, Pradhan wanted her to achieve the top position this time around.
She said her father's words of encouragement -- not to settle for just ‘pass-marks’ but to aim for top rankings -- also echoed in her mind, adding that he works tirelessly for her family and wants his children to be successful.
Her father also had been faithfully taking her and her siblings to and from school every day since their early years, instead of using that time to earn more for the family.
Daimari has decided to pursue Science stream, citing her love for mathematics as the primary motivator, the subject she found challenging until Class 6.
The COVID-induced lockdown came as a blessing in disguise for her, as she developed a genuine interest in mathematics, thanks to her tutor who instilled in her the interest in the subject.
Looking to the future, Daimari’s father said that the decision rests entirely with her, and regardless of their suggestions, they are committed to supporting her choices wholeheartedly.