Sunday 17 / November / 2024
MUSCAT: The announcement of the CBSE board results for Class 12 brought joy and celebration to the homes of top achievers in Oman.
Toppers Yadu Krishna Balkrishnan (Science stream), Gunjan Karwani (Commerce stream), and Kiara Denise Frank (Humanities stream) were all thrilled to find themselves at the pinnacle, none of them having expected such an honour.
Gunjan Karwani (centre) celebrates with her family, relatives and friends
Yadu Krishna, a student at Indian School Darsait (ISD), was astonished by his top ranking with a 99% score. “I didn’t expect to be an Oman topper with 99 percent, though I had expected to get around 97-98 percent. But it is nice to be Oman topper,” he said.
Yadu’s scores were impeccable: 100% in Chemistry, 99% in Maths, and 97% in Physics, although Maths and Physics were his favourite subjects.
Reflecting on his success, Yadu shared, “I always kept myself updated with school classes. I used to put in two to four hours daily, but during exams, I would increase that to seven hours. The key was to keep up with my classes in school.”
Inspired by his elder brother, a former ISD student and now an engineer, Yadu aspires to follow in his footsteps. “He has been my role model. Though seven years elder to me, I have always looked up to him.”
Yadu’s parents, both working professionals, were delighted by their son’s achievement. His father, Balakrishnan, said, “We are proud of our son’s achievement. He is a bright student and has been consistent in his studies. We are thankful to the teachers, school principal, and all our well-wishers.”
The family celebrated with a pizza party, and Yadu, who enjoys photography and badminton, is now preparing for competitive exams in India, aiming to pursue electronics and communication at a top college.
For Gunjan Karwani of Indian School Wadi Kabir (ISWK), the news of her success came as a surprise while she was in her hometown of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
“I was in India when I received the result. It took 5-10 minutes to sink in that I had topped Oman in the commerce stream. I expected around 95% but to get 98.6% was something I didn’t expect,” she shared upon her return to Muscat.
Gunjan attributes her success to a balanced study routine and avoiding pressure. “There was no shortcut to hard work,” she emphasised.
As the only child of a schoolteacher and a businessman, she dedicated 7-8 hours daily to her studies, increasing to nine hours on weekends.
Gunjan also actively participated as the president of the Business and Entrepreneurship Club at ISWK, which she found to be a rewarding extracurricular activity. She plans to pursue a career in banking and accountancy, starting with a CFA course in Dubai.
Kiara Denise Frank of Indian School Ghubra (ISG) topped the humanities stream with an impressive 98.6%. She credited her success to regular studies and avoiding social media distractions.
“I never kept things till the last minute. Regular studies helped me, and my teachers at ISG were very helpful,” Kiara remarked.
An all-rounder, Kiara participated in basketball, handball, and football teams of school, and is also a guitarist.
With a mother who is a well-known stage performer, Kiara’s love for music comes naturally.
“It was a surprise to find myself as Oman topper,” she said, having expected around 97%. Kiara, whose mother is a PR consultant, has been admitted to a college in Bengaluru to study psychology, with plans to specialise in forensic psychology later. “Kiara has been consistent since her ninth class and is also a creative writer. She got 100 marks in English this time, and we are very proud of her achievement,” her mother, Shyline, said.
These toppers’ stories highlight the power of regular studies, consistent effort, and the unwavering support of family and teachers. Their achievements stand as a testament to their dedication and hard work, inspiring many future students to follow in their footsteps.
