In a remarkable academic achievement, Keleno Thorie of Northfield School has secured the top position in the Arts stream of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examination 2026 bringing pride to her school and community. Thorie comes from a family of six and she is the youngest of four sisters . Thorie comes from a family with an impressive academic record where her three elder sisters were also toppers

Daughter of Kuolhoulie Thorie and Khrieno Thorie from Kigwema village, Keleno belongs to the Angami community.

She expressed deep gratitude upon achieving the top rank, attributing her success to divine guidance and unwavering family support.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank Almighty God for helping me secure this position. I’m very grateful,” she said.

Recalling her reaction after seeing the results, Keleno admitted that the achievement came as a surprise. “Honestly, I did not expect it in the slightest, so I was scared and thankful at the same time,” she shared.

Highlighting the key factors behind her success, she credited her parents and sisters for being her strongest pillars of support. Keleno said their guidance played a crucial role in shaping her journey.

“They gave me important advice which really helped me with my studies. It was both motivating and a bit pressuring, but mostly motivating,” she said.

Speaking about her study routine, Keleno revealed that she preferred shorter, focused study sessions rather than long hours. “I usually studied for a maximum of two hours at a time and took breaks in between,” she said, adding that maintaining focus was one of the biggest challenges she had to overcome.

She noted that all subjects posed equal difficulty, and she tackled challenging topics by concentrating on key points and understanding core concepts.

Keleno had earlier secured a top position in the HSLC 2024 examination, an experience she said helped refine her study strategies and better prepare for the HSSLC.

Looking ahead, she plans to pursue History Honours and aims to prepare for civil services examinations in the future. Explaining her choice of stream, she said, “I was not really good at science or math, so arts was my go-to.”

She concluded by expressing gratitude to her parents, sisters, and friends for their constant encouragement and support throughout her academic journey.

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Commerce Topper:

Shreya Debnath of Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, who secured the top position in the Commerce stream with an impressive 96 percent, expressed happiness over her achievement.

She expressed that while she expected to secure a rank, she did not anticipate emerging as the topper. She said she was satisfied with her performance and credited consistency in studies as the key to her success.

“I started preparing from the very beginning. I didn’t follow any strict daily schedule, but I made sure to study every day without skipping,” she said.

On challenges faced during preparation, Shreya admitted that self-imposed pressure was one of the biggest hurdles. However, she said she overcame it through faith and maintaining focus.

Sharing her study routine, she revealed that she studied around six to seven hours daily and consciously limited time spent on social media, which she described as a major distraction for students.

“There is no secret. My only strategy was to stay consistent,” she added.

Shreya plans to pursue Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) in Dimapur and aspires to become a banker in the future.

Advising fellow students, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between studies and personal well-being. “Don’t take too much pressure. Enjoy your studies, but be consistent and don’t skip,” she said.

Her father expressed immense pride over her achievement, stating that the family expected her to secure a rank but not the top position. He added that no pressure was imposed on her, allowing her to study independently.

Her mother highlighted Shreya’s disciplined routine, noting that she managed her time effectively between school, tuition, and studies without strict restrictions on phone or television usage.

Shreya also extended gratitude to her school and teachers for their guidance and support, saying their mentorship played a crucial role in her success.

When asked about the most challenging subject, she identified Accountancy and said she turned it into a strength through regular practice.