Student of poor family makes parents proud

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Rhana (right) shows her results to her mother.

SIBU: Rhana Kirisna Killy has made her parents and school proud scoring 9As in last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the results of which were released yesterday.

The SMK St Elizabeth student said she had expected to get 7As and 2Bs.

“As the oldest among three siblings in my family, I’ve always wished to be the exemplary child who can make our parents proud.

“I will be able to change the fate of my family if I have a good job in the future,” she said when collecting her results slip at the school yesterday.

Rhana said she planned to enter Form 6 as another step towards her ambition of becoming a counselling teacher.  She was accompanied by her mother Kelang Lawan, 40, and her five-year-old sister.

Kelang, a housewife, was elated with her daughter’s result.

She said her family which currently rents a house in Tong Sang Road originally came from Mujong in Kapit.

“We moved to Sibu to earn a living,” she said. According to Kelang, her husband Killy Atang, 45, who is a general labourer, has an unstable income.

“Rhana didn’t attend any tuition because we’re financially constrained.

“We depend on her teachers to teach her. She also did her revision with friends,” she said.

Meanwhile, SMK St Elizabeth was announced as the best school in Sibu for the fifth time in a row with a School Average Grade (GPS) of 2.66.  The school is placed fourth among schools in Sarawak.

Ninety-five from a total of 194 students of the all-girl school who sat for the examination last year achieved 5As and above, including Rhana.

Evelyn Lau Ming Yii and Grace Tang Ai obtained 11As and 10As straight respectively.

Principal Clement Chieng said: “Being a Catholic mission school, indeed we praise the Lord for His grace and providence that we can sustain our success and excellence.

“For the record, some SMK St Elizabeth’s students came from the lower socio-economic background, they had come up to us with a not very impressive academic background. But at the end of their schooling year, they are able to excel and leave this school with a good SPM result which is a passport to their better future.

“Thus, we are very proud of our students. Bravo girls!” he said in a written message.