This is an archive article published on April 10, 2024
Meet Karnataka 2nd PUC toppers — A Vidyalakshmi, Gnanavi M, Medha D
Karnataka PUC Science, Commerce and Arts toppers want to give back to society. All three are girls. They share their future plans with indianexpress.com.
Written by Sanath Prasad
Bengaluru (karnataka) | April 10, 2024 04:21 PM IST
4 min read
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Of the total 6,22,819 students appearing as regular students in Karnataka PUC 2 exams, as many as 5,26,858 passed. The pass percentage among the regular students is 84.59 per cent (Image designed by Abhishek Mitra)
‘Consistency is the key”, says A Vidyalakshmi who topped the science stream in the second PU Karnataka board examination 2024. Originally from Trichy in Tamil Nadu, Vidyalakshmi is the daughter of S Akileshwaran, who is a senior section engineer (locomotives) in the South Western Railways division of the Indian Railways. The 18-year old — who bagged 598 marks — pursued II PU from Vidyanikethan SC PU College, Hubballi.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, Vidyalakshmi said, “I owe my success to my teachers and parents. I had not expected these results. I was quite unsure about scoring well in English and Hindi. However, I ended up scoring full in English but lost two marks in Hindi. I had prioritised the core subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. I had prepared a study timetable and I followed it throughout consistently.”
Vidyalakshmi studied only for four to five hours a day. She spent the rest of her day with family and investing some time in fitness. “I learn and comprehend most of the concepts at college. Hence, I spend very little time studying at home. I usually spend only four to five hours a day. When I am free, I spend time with my family. I also walk for relaxation and peace of mind. It helps me focus better,” said Vidyalakshmi.
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Vidyalakshmi is an MBBS aspirant and a state-level basketball player. “I would like to pursue medicine to give it back to society. Moreover, nobody in my family is a doctor. I would like to be the first one,” said Vidyalakshmi.
Karnataka PUC Commerce Topper
Gnanavi M, who topped the Commerce stream with 597 marks, followed the footsteps of her elder sister who also pursued commerce from Vidyanidhi PU College in Tumkur. However, she scripted a slightly different story by outperforming her elder sister.
“I believe that maintaining consistency will fetch you the desired results. It is important not to procrastinate because ‘later becomes never’. I never had a fixed schedule for studying. It was a more concept-based approach and I used to spend time on the concept until I understood,” said Gnanavi, who is also a painter. “My friends and I also practised combined study and we used to help each other understand complex concepts. This helped us comprehend better,” she added.
Gnanavi, whose parents run a hotel business in Mandya, wants to become a Chartered Accountant. “I understand becoming an accountant is not easy. However, I love to accept challenges — win or lose. It is important to stand up to the challenges rather than avoiding them,” said Gnanavi.
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Karnataka PUC Arts Topper
Medha D, the daughter of an agriculturist, topped the arts stream with 596 marks. An avid sportsperson and a painter, Medha loves to pursue psychology as a career. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Medha said, “I wake up at 4 am to study and devote around two hours and then head to college. After college hours I take a break. I believe it’s not the study hours that are important, but how well we unwind ourselves and engage in co-curricular activities, that will eventually make learning more easier.”
Medha wants to pursue psychology to bring in a ‘change in the society’. “My mother is a techie and pursued psychology. My grandfather was spiritually inclined. As a result, I draw my inspiration from them, especially my grandfather. He has always advocated for a change in the society and in the education system. I would like to pursue psychology because I feel connected to it at a personal level,” said Medha who pursued second PU from NMKRV PU College in Benglauru.
Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More