Mangalore: With hard work paying off, elated CET toppers now aim higher
Naveen Menezes
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, May 28: They spent the year in pursuit of their goals, and now that they have achieved what they aimed for, they are all set to take their dreams a step further.
Medha N Rao, Sahan Alva, Varun Venkatesh have not only done their parents and college proud, they have kept up, if not raised, the image of Mangalore as an educational hub.
Medha Rao (Med-2) and Sahan Alva (Engg-4)
Sayeeksha Kotekar (Med-8) and Varun Venkatesh (Med-6)
While Medha has secured the second rank in medical in state in CET, Sahan Alva has bagged the 4th rank in engineering, and Varun, the sixth rank in medical.
Their joy knew no bounds as they shared their thoughts and plans with daijiworld, and celebrated their achievement with their parents and mentors.
Medha, daughter of Narayan and Shobha Rao basically hails from Ujire. Narayan, who is a chartered accountant by profession, had shifted along with his wife and children to Qatar long ago. In fact, Medha says that from first standard to tenth, she studied in Qatar, after which she continued her education here. That perhaps makes her achievement all the more unique.
In PUC, she secured 94.7 percent in PCMB. Asked how she prepared herself, Medha says, "I prepared well for CET. There were regular tests and the coaching was intensive, which really helped me."
Her favourite passtimes include watching movies and shopping, but with such crucial exams on hands she even deactivated her Facebook account so as not to get distracted. She says this was her biggest sacrifice, apart from the fact that she had to stay in hostel away from family.
Medha says that her brother who is pursuing his engineering atI NIT-K motivated her. She plans to take up medicine in KMC, and with her rank, there is no doubt that she would get it easily.
Fourth rank hold in engineering, Sahan Alva, is the son of Suresh and Usha Alva, who are basically from Mysore.
In PUC, he secured 95 percent. "I am surprised that I secured the 4th rank in engineering. I was expecting somewhere in 20s," he says.
About his preparations, he says, "I gave equal attention to both PU and CET, as well as competitive exam JEE advanced. I also solved a lot of question papers of previous years which helped. I would get up at 5.30 am and study until midnight."
He attributes he success to his college which he says has excellent teaching methodology and faculty.
His favourite passtime is football, and he whenever he is not studying, he takes up the sport.
Like the rest, for Varun Venkatesh, son of Dr Venkatesh Sanjeeva, a surgeon, and Lavanya, it is hard work that paid rich dividends.
Having secured 92.3 in PUC, his goal was to crack the CET with flying colours, which is just what he did.
"I am thankful to the support from my parents, teachers, and most of all, god's grace," says an elated Varun.
He also credited his achievement to his college where he spent 12 hours a day in class from 7 am to 7 pm with other students. He followed it up with revision every day from 8 pm to 11.30 pm, as he loves to study during those hours. He even studied during the holidays, he says.
Son of a doctor, Varun aspires to be a oncologist and pursue his dreams in KMC. His hobbies inlcude listening to music and he is also a football fan.