Panchkula girl triumphs tragedy to ace NEET

Chandigarh, June 4

Mehak Arora (17) was in Class VII when her father died of medical negligence. He wanted her to become a doctor. On Monday, she topped the tricity with all-India rank (AIR) 31 in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for admission to MBBS in medical colleges across India.

Mehak has scored 671 out of 720. She is ranked second across Haryana. She did her Class XII from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, Chandigarh, and secured 92.6 per cent marks. A resident of Panchkula, she passed her Class X from St Xavier’s High School, Sector 20, Panchkula, with 95.4 per cent marks in the ICSE exams.

Her mother, Renu Arora, is a chartered accountant. “A wrong injection led to my husband’s death. I was in Patna that day,” she said. “In a family of advocates and chartered accountants, Mehak will be the first doctor, she said.

“I was expecting I would be among the top 100,” said Mehak. She wants to join AIIMS, whose result is yet to be declared. “I want to join neurosciences,” she said.

Talking about her study schedule, she said self-study of six to seven hours was sufficient. She took coaching too. She got gold medals at the state level in basketball, chess and martial arts. However, from Class X, she focused on studies.

Sharing her success mantra, she said, “Have fun, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to do it. I have never been a studious person.”

Megha Sharma from Chandigarh got AIR 44 and stood second in the tricity. However, she could not be contacted.

Doctor couple's daughter bags AIR 47

A daughter of a doctor couple, Parul Berry (18), got AIR 47 and stood third in the tricity. A student of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, she scored 93.6 per cent marks in Class XII.

A native of Jalandhar, she had scored 96.2 per cent marks in Class X in the ICSE exams.

Her father, Dr Praveen Berry, is a paediatrician, while her mother, Dr Seema Berry, is a gynaecologist. Both are practising at Jalandhar. Parul is yet to decide about her field. “My parents are my inspiration. I am looking forward to joining AIIMS, but the result is yet to be declared,” she said.

About her success mantra, she said, “You should enjoy learning and encourage a healthy competition among peers. A daily study of five to six hours is fine.” She took coaching too.

Son of yoga trainers cleared JEE (Main) too

Sagar Mishra (17) got AIR 49 and is placed fourth in the tricity. A student of DC Montessori, Mani Majra, he scored 96.4 per cent marks in Class XII.

He did his Class X from Air Force School at 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Chandigarh, with a CGPA of 10.

His father, Sushil Mishra, is an accountant in the Indian Air Force, while his mother, Kanti Mishra, is a housewife. Both are yoga experts.

“I want to join AIIMS. My grandfather inspired me to become a doctor. He had Parkinson’s disease. I want to join neurosciences,” he said.

Sagar has a unique distinction as he cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) as well, which is conducted for admission to engineering colleges across the country. He got the 1,589th rank in the JEE (Main) and appeared for the JEE (Advanced) too.

“I am a bit scared of mathematics,” he said.

He used to study for six to seven hours a day on an average. His hobbies are yoga and playing the guitar.

“I am not a studious person. It is important to stay focused and disciplined,” he said on his success mantra. He took coaching too.

Vaibhav Garg (17) of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Collegiate Public School, Sector 26, got AIR 69. He scored 96.6 per cent in Class XII. He did his Class X from St John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh, with a CGPA of 10.

His father, Sanjeev Garg, is an SDO in Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL), while his mother, Manju Garg, is a teacher in a private school.

“I want to join AIIMS or Maulana Azad Medical College,” he said.

On his success mantra, he said it was important to be regular. He took coaching too.

Class XII medical topper gets AIR 90

Eishvauk Aggarwal (17), a student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula, who topped the medical stream in the tricity with 97.6 per cent marks in Class XII, got AIR 90.

Her parents, Rajesh Aggarwal and Alka Aggawal, are into business. Her aim is to join AIIMS, but the result is awaited. Playing badminton, cycling and listening to English songs are her hobbies. She took coaching too and says it is important for a student to be stress-free.