Chennai: V Keerthika, a student of Chennai higher secondary school on Pulla Avenue in Shenoy Nagar, once again made headlines by emerging as the top scorer with 591 in the Class XII board examsacross all Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) schools. This is not a first for her — Keerthika was the city topper in the SSLC exams in 2023 and continued to excel in the Class XI as well.Her stellar performance did not come easy though.Her father, a daily wage tailor at an export company and the sole breadwinner for the family, struggled to arrange funds for her education. Due to financial constraints, he was unable to afford books and guides for Keerthika. Understanding her family’s situation, she never asked for study materials. Fortunately, as a consistent topper in Classes X, XI and XII, her school’s teachers and principal provided her with guides and special academic support to help her score well in the board exams.”I worked hard to secure high marks in the public examination and used to arrive early and leave late from school. The teachers were friendly and would clear doubts even outside school hours. I saved the scholarship money I received for scoring the highest marks in board exams to pay for my college fees. However, since my father couldn’t afford my elder brother’s fees, I gave him the money. Now, it’s difficult to pay my own college fee, though I wish to pursue a BE at Anna University. I also aspire to become an IAS officer,” said Keerthika.The school headmistress, N Chinna Velaithai, stated, “She is one of the most hardworking students we ever had. Her achievements are a matter of pride not just for the school but for the entire city. Since there’s no proper space at her home to study, she used to. We conducted regular tests and provided proper guidance. However, due to her family’s financial situation, we are currently seeking scholarships to support her higher education.”