What comes after the headlines, bouquets and laddus? A lifelong high? Or a confidence slump in the face of failure? Former toppers tell us about life beyond the boards.
Anupama Lakshmanan: I was in for a rude shock in college
CBSE Class XII topper (2006)
Pursuing PhD in bioengineering at Caltech University, California With a score of 96.8%, I stood fourth at the all-India level. It was a celebration for everyone — my teachers, parents and neighbours, and even my autorickshaw drivers.
I received so much attention for the awards and accolades, but it all suddenly changed right after school when I went to attend the National University of Singapore (NUS). I was in for a rude shock right in my first year. I had never scored less than 95% and high marks were taken for granted. But, suddenly I was this biotech major in a coding class surrounded by students who were much better than me. I broke down when I was given a B grade in the class. I called my mom and said I may not be able to make it through UG successfully. I was so used to the spotlight and suddenly I felt like I was a nobody. Looking back, I realise that marks are not the be-all and end-all. I went on to do my PhD in bioengineering at Caltech University and was honoured with the DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Young Investigator Award last year. In the last 10 years, I’ve learnt that I became stronger by accepting failure and challenges. While the quest for perfection is admirable, students shouldn’t be obsessed with marks. Centum is the end product of hard work so the focus should be on the process rather than the product.
Aruna Kesavan: If I met my 12th std self, I’d tell her to go out more
CBSE Class XII topper (2004) Brand ambassador of the Union ministry of health and family welfare (2004) Pursuing PhD in Physics at Penn State, Pennsylvania
The marks got me into the course and college I always wanted. And the feat put me in the papers for a couple of days. The brand ambassador position happened after I was declared the national topper, although I didn’t actively work with the government beyond endorsing social schemes in ads. Doing well in school gave me the confidence that I can take up any challenge. When I was applying to BITS Pilani for a dual degree — an MSc in Physics and Maths — people asked me why I wasn’t applying for an engineering degree in computer science. The latter was the most sought-after course then. But I’d always been determined to get into physics. I knew researchers don’t get paid as well or as quickly as, say, engineers do; and I was prepared for that reality. But it was only in the fourth year of college that it really sunk in. When the engineers graduated and started on their high-paying jobs, I was doing research internships. But that is the kind of work I found challenging and enjoyable. I'm one week away from defending my PhD thesis here and I don’t really think of my school rank anymore. When my family was moving houses, I discovered some paper clippings and mementos from that time. That's all there is to it. If I could talk to my Class 12 self, I'd ask her to go out more, challenge herself, read more books (outside the curriculum) to learn about the world, and reach out to research scientists. Marks do matter in that they open doors to the courses you want. But even if you don’t get your first preference, it isn't the end of the world. My college life broadened my definition of success. I met so many people who wouldn’t do well in exams but were very successful in other ventures.
It was unthinkable in my time to score the kind of marks toppers do now and the West Bengal board was known for allotting low marks. Being a topper helped me pursue Physics at Presidency College, but nothing beyond that. It never helped me in my career as an IAS officer. I tried to complete my PhD after joining the service but couldn't because of work pressure. That was one failure I faced after school. Scoring close to 100% gives you confidence. Now the competition is fierce, so high marks can act as a morale booster for those who give national entrance examinations. And if you want to get into a college like St Stephens it means a lot — I didn’t even think about it. But otherwise, I don’t think a high score has any connection with good placements; your performance at interviews is more important. During our time there was a funny and rather unfair norm at Presidency College — students coming from ISC or CBSE boards would get 10% deducted as part of a "normalisation" process (these boards were more generous with marks than the state).
Sabarish Chandramouli: Life is too short to be remembered by numbers
CBSE Class XII topper (2007) Animation and physics engineer in Los Angeles
It was a satisfying moment but the percentage next to my name wasn't something I obsessed over. I did not spend too much time wondering what I would score. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to do something that involved telling stories to people. I believe that videogames are the storytelling and entertainment medium of the future and so I plotted a course to chart a career in the field.
I have a bachelor's degree in computer science from MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology and a post-graduate degree with specialization in videogame development from University of Southern California. With these I inched my way towards my passion. I now live in Los Angeles and work as an animation and physics engineer at Treyarch, Activision, contributing to the much-loved videogame Call of Duty. My marks and topper status have never once helped me in my career. The only thing that matters is how much I learned in school. Every little physics lecture, or a math lesson has all paid off in retrospect and it’s only because I was passionate about it. The attitude of placing marks above everything else means nothing in the years after school. People at work and around the world judge us by our enthusiasm, creativity, inquisitiveness and passion for learning. Our lives are way too short to be remembered by numbers. It is better to be remembered by what one gains from the world and how it's used to give back.