SHILLONG, MAY 4: Joziah Daman Laloo and Amos Chinminlun of St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, who secured the second rank in the arts and science streams respectively in the HSSLC 2026 examination, credited consistency, personalized routines, and family support for their success.
Laloo, who scored 455 in arts, plans to pursue higher studies in literature.
“I am trying for major in English & Literature and I planned to become a professor as of right now,” he said.
On study habits, he cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach. “I think the biggest misconception that people have is you have to study for hours at a time and although that may be true in some cases, I feel it is not true for everyone,” Laloo said.
“For me personally, I study whenever I felt like it and I also took breaks whenever I felt needed. I think everyone need to find their own study plan.”
He added, “People often look at toppers as the ideal student and they have to follow their routine but not everyone can commit to the same routine that other people have. So I want to advise other students is have a study routine that works for you and as soon as you find that study routine commit to it.”
Science stream second ranker Amos Chinminlun, who scored 464, described the result as a proud moment.
“I am really happy and excited right now, it is a moment of great pride and joy for me, my family and my entire school and I can’t explain how I feel right now at this moment because I am too filled with joy and happiness,” he said.
Crediting his achievement, Chinminlun said, “First and foremost it is God almighty… I believe that God has bless me with these intellectual abilities and so my main aim is to work as hard as possible so that I can glorify his name through the talent that he has bless me.”
He also thanked his parents “because of the sacrifice that they have done for me,” and his teachers. “They are willing to help me at any time… they guide me as to how should I prepare and that is why I am really grateful to them as well,” he said.
“Also, I have to thank my classmates because I believe that the group you hanged out with and spend most of your time with also influence you a lot. The classmate that I had were the best of the best and because of them I got to grow in so many ways and that is why I am here today.”
On his preparation, Chinminlun said, “I started preparation from day one. I studied everyday and consistently I put in the hours. By mid December and school got over, I was already done with my syllabus. After that it was just revision and as exams came closer and nearer, I started put in more and more hours — 10-11 hours and that is what I did.”
Asked about technology, he said he used it selectively.
“Yes, I kind of dependent on them by using my phone internet to research on various stuff, I used Chat-GPT as well,” he said. “It depends on the person. I believe I knew myself very well, I knew I will be able to exert control that is why I used technology to the best of my advantage but for those who cannot control themselves, it is better that they dont use.”
Chinminlun said he is “planning to pursue economics.”
