Focus at finishing line took her from 340 to 503

Chennai: "Every time I see my father leave home at 5am to work in the salon, I tell myself that someday I will become a successful person and take care of my parents," said R Abinaya, daughter of a barber in Virugambakkam, who scored 503 out of 600 in the Class 12 board exams.

Abinaya said she was able to score only 340 marks in the final revision exam conducted in the school. "It was a moment of awakening for me. Even though I thought I was trying my best, the results were far from what I was expecting. That is when my teachers helped with additional classes and gave me the motivation to bring out the best in me," she said.

She also said, "Even though my father only earns ₹8,000 - ₹10,000 a month, my parents never made me anxious about my studies. I may not have got the first mark in the school, but deep down, I understand the potential I hold in me." She added, "I aspire to become a doctor. I will take up NEET and clear it."

R Tamilarasi, headmistress of Jaigopal Garodia Government Girls Higher Secondary School, said, "We organised special classes for students who are slow and average learners. Every day, they were made to stay back till 5pm and prepare for the exams. The credit goes to all the teachers in our school."