Topper wants to be cancer specialist

IMPHAL, May 20: 'I want to be a cancer specialist and do research on cancerous cells. I have seen cancer affecting relatives and many other people around me and I want to get into a fight with the disease'. That's Mongbijam Miranda for you. A student of Nirmalabas school, Miranda  secured 480 marks out of 500 to secure the first position in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination with letter marks in Additional English, English, Maths, Science and Social sciences in HSLC examination this year.

A resident of Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai and born to Mongbijam Iboyaima Singh who heads an NGO and Nongthongbam Premila, a government school teacher at Jai Hind High school, Miranda was contacted over the phone. Currently in Meerut with relatives 'on a holiday' Miranda said she was studying already in XI Science at the Shri Cheitanya Junior College in Hyderabad where she application was accepted on pre-result basis.

Asked if she expected to be the first position holder in the HSLC examination, Miranda said that all she did was to study hard. "One does not need to study for long hours but give full concentration and attention in even a short duration of studies. One should not have tension or pressure during study time", she said.

"But I am happy that I have topped!" she said, adding that the credit for her performance  lies with her parents and teachers.

Apart from studying regularly for 4-5 hours, Miranda dabbles in a few hobbies including painting, reading novels and writing poems. Lamenting the lack of a positive environment for students in the state, she pointed out how long spells of electric load shedding and the occurrence of bandhs and blockades impacted on the academic progress in terms of syllabus coverage and keeping education a free zone.

When asked what message she would like to other students, she said that there is nothing in the world which cannot be achieve if he or she works hard with sincere dedication for it and appeal to all not to disturb the atmosphere of schools and colleges.

On the Facebook generation of young people, Miranda said,"Social networking sites are beneficial and do not have to be a bad influence. It all depends on how we use it."