Thursday, May 20, 2010

On top of the world!

When the message alert tone rang on my mother's cell yesterday afternoon, I thought my heart just stopped beating. My mother's hand was shaking as she pressed the 'Select' button to read the message. We then began looking at my board exam marks and when we finished, we both shouted out in joy and hugged each other. Then, she was the first one to jump up in joy, with her eyes filling up with tears at the same time. And this moment yesterday, was definitely the most memorable one of my life...

On the day before my board exam results, I had only wished for one thing, forgetting all my other targets. I had just hoped that I would be able to make everyone in my family and all my teachers very very happy with my results, and that is precisely what has happened. I have secured 96.5% marks from the humanities stream. I got 92 each in Geography, Psychology, Environmental Education and English, 95 in Bengali, 99 in Economics and an unbelievable 100 in History! My exam was undoubtedly good, but then, who expects 100? The aggregate marks(96.5) is calculated according to the 'Best of 4' system (taking English and three other subjects in which one has secured the maximum marks). But, I feel that my biggest victory has been becoming the school topper, my long cherished desire. Many people had looked with scorn upon my decision of taking up Humanities in Class XI. They were sure that it was a mistake, and I have been working very hard for the last two years to prove them wrong. And, I have actually done it now. I have edged well past the Science and Commerce stream students of our school to become the topper. :-)

I am very thankful to my parents for supporting my decision to take up Humanities because in Kolkata, most parents don't do that. I have heard weird stories of some of them threatening to leave their homes if their wards wish to take up anything other than Science! My parents never had any qualms about this, which is one of the foremost reasons for my success. My Geography tecaher, Pratima Ma'am, also the head of our Humanities department, encouraged me a lot and helped me to face the kind of challenge that I had taken up. Her contribution in my life will remain unparalleled. My other subject teachers, Manisha Ma'am, Abhijit Sir, Saswati Ma'am, Tanushree Ma'am, Saheli Ma'am and Shaluk Ma'am, have also encouraged me a lot and have always egged me on to go for the best, to go for full marks, to go for a 95+ in every subject...I now feel on top of the world to see my parents, my teachers and all my family members so happy....Now, nothing seems difficult....I just hope I am able to make the right career choices for the future and make them even more proud. :-)

10 comments:

Unknown said...

MF!
So happy for you. So happy and proud myself. When the phone rang that eventful morning, and I heard you giggle and laugh uncontrollably for the first 30 seconds, it was pure delight. Who knew that the one-time little Titli who hated Taj Mahal because it had required her to take off her pretty pink shoes, would overwhelm us with this amazing performance? I wish I was there to celebrate your success. I love you lots.

Swetank Gupta said...

Sinjini!
This is really the best news I've heard in all of 2010 and I don't think anything will beat it in the coming months.As I can see you are happy with your achievement, and you must be, because savoring our best times remains with us for a long time and helps us get through the lows with hope, and I hope this feeling of success remains with you for a long, long time.

I admit, in today's time, opting for Humanities was a brave decision and you've done ample justice to it. Just for that, you deserve a standing ovation.

Congratulations once more.

R said...

WHAT! 96.5%?! Disgusting.

No, really. I mean it. It's a disgustingly, ridiculously good score. Congratulations! We all knew you'd do well. I'm smiling I scored so well in my exams! Super happy for you.

Now is the time for you to enjoy, breathe a little, indulge in your thoughts and paint again :) There's not a slice of doubt in my mind that you'll do increasingly well in every other exam, every other decision you take.

Yes, it's important for your parents to agree. I chose to take up a journalism degree and my father wasn't too happy. But when he saw me enjoying it, working with reputed media houses, it was all fine.

Congratulations once again SD! Enjoy this score and whatever you'd like to do. You deserve every kind of malice at the moment :)

R said...

I am smiling *like* I scored so well in my exams, I meant.

Subhadip said...

That's wonderful news! Congratulations! 100 in History - How exactly does one get 100 in history?

Butterfly said...

@Tanni Didi
I missed you too that day, and I miss you now, because I know that you would joyfully share my moments of success and preparations for college admissions. I know that you, apart from Mammam, are very happy about my History marks. Love you lots too!

@Swetank
Thank you so much. :-)Those are very encouraging words. It makes me feel great to know that this news has made you so happy.Yes, this moment will remain with me for a long time to come. Thanks a ton!

@Rohit
Thank you so much!I knew that my blogger friends would be very happy on knowing about my result.And yes, I'm looking forward to painting again. Unlike you though, I can't be sure whether I'll do really well in future or not, but I'm much more confident now.:-)

@Subhadipda
Thanks a lot!Yeah, even I hadn't been able to believe that I had actually got 100 in History. I checked and re-checked my name and index no. before being absolutely sure. In fact, everyone is asking the same question like you. I guess being good in History is there in my genes.:-) My mother is an M.A. in History. So, are two of my cousins.

nanny said...

Congratulations!
A 100% score in History. That's certainly good. History was also your most favorite subject, wasn't it?
A 99 score in Economics is also good. Economics is not an easy subject.
What was the average score of your class?
And I am also wondering: why were the people not happy with you taking Humanities?
So there are three trends in your school: Humanities, Science and Commerce. I guess one who wants to do biology, has to choose Science. Am I right? What subjects are in Commerce? I only can think of economics, accounting, and maybe some languages. I also do miss the languages a bit. Are there more languages than Bengali and English being taught at your school? Latin maybe? And if so, in what trend are they residing?
How strange that children are pressed to choose some subjects. As a parent you want your child to become happy, seems to me. And that starts by letting him/her choose his/her own future. Nice to hear that your parents left you free.
Funny you call your teachers with Ma'am and Sir as a last name!
Enjoy your success for now. Mark it in your life as something you can always rely on. As a clear proof for the capabilities you have, and what you can get with hard work. At some or another point you will need it.
Well done, my congratulations, and I wish you a nice day when you get your diploma!
Greetings!

Butterfly said...

@Nanny
Thank you so much for all your wishes.:-) History was one of my two most favourite subjects, the other one being English.

And now, the answers to all your questions. First of all, the average score of my class was not very good. The second highest score was 90, followed by 89, 87.5 and 83. But, the rest of the students didn't score too high.

People weren't happy about my taking Humanities because that's how it is in Bengal, our state. People have formed the weird idea for generations that its more 'advantageous' to take up Science. Science, according to them is tougher and so, it is meant for the academically 'better' students. Humanities, on the other hand, has always been associated with the weak students, though I have no idea why! That's why they, with their absurd ideas, hated my decision too.

One does have to choose Science if he/she wants to pursue Biology, or Physics and Chemistry. In our school,Accountancy, Economics, Business Studies and Maths are taught in the Commerce stream, apart from the languages. And no, we don't have Latin. Most schools in India don't because here, Hindi is much more important, being the national language. So, our school teaches Hindi, besides Bengali and English.

In Indian schools, we call our teachers as 'Ma'am' or 'Sir',as a way of respect for them. I know this doesn't exist in many other foreign countries, but that's the custom here.

Scribbles! said...

Congratulations butterfly....wow...haven't heard anyone scoring those marks...yes a 100 in history...as R puts it a ridiculously good score..!

n congrats on the Stephens...awesome!

Happiness on the rocks...cheers!

Butterfly said...

@Scribbles
Thank you very much.:-)