It was the tenth of may at about 10 a.m my friend Shilpa ran up to inform that I had topped in the school. He had just seen the results from the internet site and had sung up to congratulate me. I was speechless for so numb was I with that his words did not immediately register. I was barely able to say ‘thank you’ and gently put the phone down. By this time my parents and sister were crowding round to me to know what the matter was. I jubilantly told them about my result. What followed was just indescribable. While my parents kissed and hugged me my friend came around to congratulate me.

I was indeed enjoying being the cynosure of all eyes and kept picking myself to ascertain that I was not hallucinating. Just then my eyes fell on the daily newspaper which had been lying on the table completely ignored in the commotion. No sooner had I turned the cover page when my heart skipped a beat for lo and behold! Staring me straight in the face was the result of the national science talent search test. With shaking fingers, I scanned the roll numbers and to my surprise, I found my roll number. I called out to my mother and within no time the news spread throughout the neighbourhood. I had indeed become a star overnight. This was something I had just not anticipated but it meant to me more than anything else. It was indeed a milestone towards my ambition to become a scientist.

Looking back I feel elated for what happened that fateful day which was the happiest day of my life. This day which shall always be fresh in my memory, for it was the turning point in my life.