CORPORATION'S PRIDE: (From left) S. Velmurugan, M. Yogendran and T. Prabhu, all from Nungambakkam Corporation School, scored the first three ranks in Philosophy subject in the Plus-Two examinations. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: One battle is won but the war still rages on.

Students of Chennai's Corporation schools who fared well in the Plus Two examination are happy to have crossed the first hurdle. Their resilience against odds has paid dividends.

But what next? Dreams they have, but not the means to achieve them.

S. Velmurugan, M. Yogendran and T. Prabhu, all from Nungambakkam Corporation Boys' Higher Secondary School, bagged state ranks in Philosophy while their study group partner, N. Manikandan, is ranked third in the State in Sociology.

While Prabhu wants to join the civil services, Manikandan would rather join the Indian Police Service and Yogendran and Velmurugan want to become schoolteachers. Another student, G. Manikandan, scored a centum in Chemistry and wants to enrol for Bachelors Degree in Nursing. But chasing their aspirations would mean a lot for each of them.

For, Yogendra and Prabhu deliver newspapers before school hours and Velmurugan works in a book binding shop to supplement family income. G. Manikandan sells flowers along with his mother in the morning, while N. Manikandan caters tea to a private bank in Chetpet.

Lack of support and favourable atmosphere at home did not deter them from continuing their studies. "Support from teachers pushed us ahead," the students said. They said their philosophy teacher, N. Kumar, paid their school fees and bought notebooks for several of them.

"Home had no electricity. So we studied at school till 9 p.m. During exams, we would go to nearby parks and sit under light posts," they said.

Determination, along with hope of a better tomorrow, has pushed them thus far but they now need more than that.

M. Rajesh of Maduvankarai Corporation School, S. Jyothi of Pulla Avenue Corporation School and A. Priya of Saidapet Girls' School secured the top three ranks among the Corporation school students.

Rajesh and Priya who appeared for the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination hope that they would get into a medical college.

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