She attributed her success to determination, hard work and perseverance, and thanked his parents and teachers for their relentless support. “To me, there is no shortcut to success. Hard work, determination, dedication and above all obeying God and teachers are the keys to my success,” she said.

“We should work hard to deserve a blessing from God. He will surely help us if we work with determination and dedication,” she urged fellow students.

The hard-working girl said her aim in life was to become a civil servant, but she wants to shift to medical education after obtaining good result as she wants to help people, who can’t afford expensive treatment.

She said she used to study six to seven hours a day while preparing for her board exam apart from attending daily classes.

Born in an economically underprivileged family at Sihphir’s Neihbawi, about 15 km from the state capital, Lalrinnungi started her schooling at Young Learner’s School at Sihphir, which was later taken over by the Presbyterian Church and renamed Presbyterian English School.

After completing Class VIII, she joined St Joseph Higher Secondary School as a boarder. She is the youngest of four siblings and remained the first girl in her primary and middle school days.

Her parents, Zothantluanga and Lalhlimpuii, are daily-wage earners and sell vegetables to support their children.

Lalrinnungi said she used to help her parents sell vegetables during weekends all through primary and middle school and during holidays while she was in high school.

She said she never shied away from selling vegetables in market places, as she wanted to help her parents support her education.