Poverty proved to be a positive stimulation for  Jose Rejohn, son of a fish vendor of Manalikarai in Kanyakumari district who took the first rank in the state SSLC exam this year.

Jose, who scored 496 marks out of 500  scoring -Tamil 98, English-98, Maths-100, Science-100 and social science-100), said that he was motivated by his father who often said that he had always been striving hard to educate his four children, including Jose, the youngest in the family.

'He was the sole bread winner in the family. Yet my father would never hesitate to spend for our education,' said Charlene Rija, Jose's elder sister, who is studying for B Sc in nursing.

Another sister Derija and brother Regan, who are twins, have just completed their twelfth standard this year. over his achievement, Jose said that though he worked hard so as to fulfill his father’s dream he did not expect that he would get the first rank.

'Although we are reeling under poverty, my parents never showed it. They might have been afraid that it would affect our studies,’ recalls Jose whose ambition is to become an  nautical engineer and join NASA.'

Her mother expressed the hope that the government would bear at least a portion of Jose’s educational expenses.