KOCHI: She is the city’s cynosure as she scored 491 out of 500 marks, four short of regional topper D Arjun’s 495, when the CBSE Class XII exam results were published on Monday.
But Dripta Ramya Sahoo, daughter of Dr D K Sahoo, professor of fire and safety engineering at Cusat, and homemaker Soubhagini is not overjoyed.
She says she wants to become a researcher in oncology and help develop medicines that are affordable for the poor in the country. “I’m keen on pursuing MBBS at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi and am preparing for its entrance on June 1. I dream of starting a hospital one day to help the poor,” said Dripta who secured 232nd rank in the Kerala medical entrance.
A bio-maths student of Bhavan’s Varuna Vidyalaya, Thrikkakara, who scored 98.2 percent marks, she says the mantra of her success is believing in oneself and identifying latent talents.
“Don’t postpone the studies for tomorrow. Make concepts thorough by revising them the day itself after classes. Some students have a habit of becoming serious with studies only after December which is not correct. It has to be started from day one of Class XII,” she said.
She got full marks in maths and chemistry. She feels there is no basis in the common perception that preparing for entrances and board exams are different.
“In fact, it is complementary. For both, you have to be thorough with the concepts. I have been very generously helped by teachers, parents and relatives in my efforts,” said Dripta who appeared for IIT-JEE Advanced on Sunday.
Her only brother Divyaroop is studying at the same school in Class VII. The family hails from Central Orissa.
