Sahil Ahmed. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Sahil Ahmed, a class X student at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) International School, came out with flying colours in the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).

By achieving this feat, Sahil has become the first student from the state to obtain the qualification while Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology International School earned a spot among the top international schools in the country offering International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Besides getting impressive marks in all subjects, he was also accorded the International Certificate of Education (ICE) distinction.

“I am overjoyed. I got an A grade in English which will come in handy while applying to universities abroad,” said an enthusiastic Sahil. Sixteen-year-old Sahil, who hails from Sonepur in Orissa, said he was just an average student when he had first joined the school.

He expressed his gratitude to the teachers for grooming him for the examinations. “My teachers worked very hard to ensure that I studied regularly. Since most of the questions are practical based, they concentrated on that aspect and gave me a series of tests. I also downloaded test papers from the Cambridge University website. My efforts as well as those of the teachers have paid off.”

Achyuta Samanta, founder, KIIT, congratulated Sahil for coming out with flying colours in the Cambridge International Examinations and said his name would be written in the history of school education for being the first student ever from the state to pass this international examination.

Studying in an international residential school meant staying away from home and parents but according to Sahil, hostel life instilled a sense of discipline in him. “There would have been numerous distractions at home such as the television and computer. The hostel facilities are pretty good here so I don’t miss home too much,” said Sahil.

For Sahil, regular studies and unwavering commitment is the mantra for success.

“After my class 12 examinations, I want to pursue my higher education in a university abroad.

“I aspire to become a mechanical engineer,” he said.