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. 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. 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. 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. 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, 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.

Source-IndianExpress