Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 15 (EMN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) felicitated toppers of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examinations, which included 34 from the Nagaland Board of School Education and three from Manipur Board of School Education.
A programme marking the event was conducted on June 15 in Kohima.
Nagaland Commissioner M Patton who attended the occasion as guest speaker congratulated the students for their achievement. He advised them to choose wisely because 'what matters most now is what one choose to become.'
The officer urged them to pursue their careers with hard work and dedication as they have done. They should not get carried away by the success but to use their talents and ability for greater purpose.
Saying that the world is moving about competitively, he asked them to adapt to the fast-changing world to move forward. “Equip yourselves with new ideas and strategies to survive,” he said.
When faced with challenges, one has to accept it and move ahead. “This is the age where career planning and mapping your future will help achieve your goals,” he said.
The commissioner asked them to think globally and to compete internationally. He encouraged failures not to be disheartened, but to take it as an opportunity to revive and move forward.
The commissioner advised parents to inculcate values and skills, which will shape the young to be better human beings. He said that marks and 'book knowledge' alone were not sufficient in shaping children. He asked them tap in their children's capacities and to motivate them in their aspirations. Teach the children to be self reliant and to survive in this competitive age, he added.
Appreciating the NSF for their initiative, Patton asked them to be agents of change in the society as an apex students' body. When situation comes for them to confront the authorities, he advised them against creating unpleasant situations.
Patton also spoke about preserving local dialects and suggested that the NSF take initiatives in promoting dialects among the youngsters.
In his address, the NSF's president Ninoto Awomi asked the students to be humble and to transform their selves to be indispensable assets to the society. Their achievement is just the beginning and they still have a long way to go, he said.
'Be ambitious, consistent and become the best version of yourself. Whatever dreams you pursue, always believe that you can become what you think of,' the students' leader advised.
Student Keneisenu Tetso spoke on behalf of the toppers. She attributed their achievement to the prayers of the people. She said success was about consistency. However, the efforts of parents, teachers, and family cannot go unnoticed. To her, being the best is not important; doing their best is all that matters, she added.
Altogether, 21 toppers were present at the event. They were given citations.