Meet the topper of Nagaland HSLC examination 2021

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 20 (EMN): Keneino Thorie, a 16-year-old student from Trinity School in Kohima, studied for hours together for months prior to the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations held in April this year, and her hard work paid off as she topped the exam.

The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) declared the results of High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations 2021 on Tuesday, with a pass percentage of 69.42%.

“I didn’t expect to be in Top 1,” an elated Thorie shared in a tete-a-tete with Eastern Mirror on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a huge achievement for me,” she added.

When asked about her preparation, she said: “Every day, I studied for four-five hours”, adding that two months prior to the scheduled exam, she studied nine-ten hours daily.

The third of the four sisters, her success was a hat trick for the Thorie family as three of them have made it to HSLC toppers list in a decade, joining her two elder sisters — Kesino Thorie, HSLC Top 9 in 2015, and Kethono Thorie who was in Top 7  in 2019.

The teenager, who loves enjoys listening to music and cooking, said that her sisters were the ones who encouraged her and they were her biggest inspirations.

The pandemic having disrupted learning systems globally, Thorie shared that she had her share of challenges- ‘difficulties in approaching the teachers and in terms of concentration unlike physical classes’.

“Last year’s pandemic was really hard but I’m sure they (classmates) tried really hard and they should be proud of themselves with what they were able to achieve,” she said. She also encouraged the students “to have faith in God and He is always with us”.

She credited her feat to her teachers and family. She said that her family meant a lot to her and had pushed her to study, by motivating and inspiring her.

The HSLC topper, who dreams to become a civil servant since her childhood, said that she wants to help people and will opt for Arts stream. She has set her eyes on Northfield School, Kohima to pursue her secondary education.

Her father is an employee at School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) Nagaland University (NU), Medziphema, while her mother is an employee at PWD, Mechanical division-I Kohima; both parents were excited and happy about the result. Her father shared that he leaves home at 8 am for work and credited his wife for diligently managing the home, which he said was ‘really encouraging’ and added that she ensures that they all follow the routine.

“We are also surprised and even my daughter was also not expecting to get this; of course she may clear her exam and everyone got shocked and it is by the grace of God that they (daughters) have achieved this,” the excited father shared.

 His piece of advice to the parents and the society is to discipline their children well.

“Not giving proper time to our children is our fault as parents, so we should ensure that their daily routines are followed,” he said.

He maintained that they don’t give additional tuition to his children but manage at home. He further added that children should be taught to be attentive at school, and listen to the teacher’s instructions.