She scored a perfect score

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ‘’My father is my role model and I consider him as the biggest influence,’’ proudly says Anjali Chandran with a happy and beaming face, the top scorer in the state higher secondary school examinations. Not even a mark less, Anjali, who studied at the Carmel Higher Secondary School in the city, managed to bag the entire scoring space, thanks to her dedication and  hard work.Asked if she ever used any kind of study strategies, Anjali says that pre-planning or following a time table seldom worked for her and that she always followed her instincts when it came to studies. “When I am in a mood to study Physics, I take my books and start studying Physics,” she says.  “Mathematics posed a minor threat, but with the help of my teachers, I could very well make up for my weakness.’’“She has always been a very keen student and has always scored well in all the examinations and never gave us an opportunity to push her or force her to study her portions. She is a self-disciplined student,” her mother Priya recalls,  pointing to a lengthy array of trophies donning their showcase. Anjali dedicates this achievement to her teachers, friends and her family; especially to her father Ramachandran Pillai. “ He always says that we are his greatest  treasure. He always took care that I attended all my classes and would even compromise on his personal and official chores to meet my academic requirements. He means a lot to me,” Anjali says with a deep sense of gratitude. “My mother is an ardent worshipper of God. She talks to God on behalf of me.”  Anjali is awaiting her medical entrance examination results and aspires to be an IFS officer. “My father inculcated the habit of reading in me. He inspired me to read newspapers on a daily basis and keep myself updated on the daily events. I read about the Foreign Secretary, Nirupama Rao Menon, and has known more about her through papers which instilled in me the desire to be a part of Foreign Affairs Department.” When asked more about her civil service aims, she says, “I realise that it is impossible for a single individual to effect a huge change in the system. But I want to do whatever little that falls under my radius of capability and power,” she says in a confident tone.Apart from studies, Anjali is an A-Grade performer in various skit competitions held during the state youth festivals. She calls her little brother, Akshay, her best friend and enjoys playing games and watching TV with him.