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I lost my Nana ji to Covid-19. I hope I’ve made him proud, says class 12 topper of Apeejay International School, Greater Noida

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Ashmita Singh Panesar, the topper of Appejay International School, Greater Noida with 97.2% in Science stream, was in a shambles when she lost her maternal grandfather to Covid-19 in the second wave in April this year.

“I was demotivated and depressed. It was really hard to get my life back on track. He was a pillar of strength to me. To make matters worse, the class 12 board exams, which got cancelled later, were scheduled to be held from May 4.”

Panesar said the teachings of her Nana ji helped her tide through the crisis. “My friends and family gave me succour and strength to help me heal, but what really got me through the crisis was my Nana ji’s teachings. There’s a quote on a wall in my Nana ji’s house which reads, ‘Fighting matters more than winning’. He lived by this code all his life. I realised that he wants me to fight and not give up. I am happy that I topped the school. I hope I’ve made him proud.”

Panesar, who scored 99 in Maths and English, said that one can find success by keeping things simple. “I attended all my online classes regularly, revised what was taught in the class every day and solved a lot of sample question papers. It’s also important to take regular feedback from your teachers. With their superior knowledge, they might find chinks in your armour. I was nervous before the class 12 practical exams. I was unsure whether or not I would be able to speak confidently before the examiners. But my teachers infused me with confidence to go and give my best. As a result, everything went great.” She wants to pursue a B.Tech in Computer Science.

Saniya Singh topped the Commerce stream with 95.4%. “I was one of the school toppers in class 10, so I wanted to replicate my performance in class 12 as well. I worked hard in every exam, while laying special emphasis on my weak areas. I suggest listing down weak areas on paper. It’s also important to be in constant touch with your teachers.”

Singh believes that although online learning is restrictive, it gives more time to students to study and scan the Internet for best study material. She wants to do B.Com Honours from Delhi University and aspires to be a chartered accountant.

Agrima Anju Chaudhary, who scored 95.2% in Humanities, said attending classes regularly will give you a better understanding of the concepts and subjects. “Students sometimes take online classes lightly. This must be avoided. Start your day by studying difficult subjects.”

Chaudhary believes that students should fully utilise the Covid time by constantly learning something new and keeping themselves engaged in productive activities. “Due to the pandemic, we have a lot of extra time on our hands. Use it judiciously and stay away from social media, especially when the exams are approaching.”

She also stressed the importance of physical activity. “Lifestyle diseases pose a risk to teens. Our teachers motivated us to stay fit during the lockdown. To refresh my mind, I exercise for an hour every day.” Chaudhary aims to pursue Journalism from Delhi University.

“I would like to congratulate all the students for their hard work and perseverance. We have ensured that even during the pandemic the quality of education remained top-notch. Teachers should also be commended for backing students through thick and thin. Going forward, we will continue with our endeavour to bring out the best in our children.”

Sarita Pande, Principal, Apeejay International School, Greater Noida

Dheeraj Sharma is Asst. Editor (Newsroom). He covers events, webinars, conducts interviews and brings you exciting news snippets. He has over 10 years' of experience in prominent media organizations. He takes pleasure in the small things in life and believes a healthy work-life balance is key to happiness. You can reach him at [email protected]

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