SPM high achiever K Phugeneswaran is living proof that poverty can be outdone by hard work and determination.

The 17-year-old SMK Seri Bintang student scored 7As in the SPM examinations despite living in a home without basic necessities such as electricity and water supply.

Phugeneswaran’s story went viral recently after one of his teachers took to Facebook to praise him. The Star Online eventually tracked him down and interviewed him.

According to Phugeneswaran, he wasn’t a consistent top scorer. He managed only a single A for Science in his PMR examination, and it was the tears of joy on his teacher’s face that inspired him to study harder.

However, poverty made it hard for his family. His parents drew meagre salaries as a school clerk and security guard and this caused them to fall back on bill payments, resulting in power cuts at their home.

None of this mattered to Phugeneswaran, the eldest of five children. He studied and slept in the school canteen or the assembly area for two years.

Months prior to his SPM, he even took up a part-time job at a supermarket to pay for extra classes and tuition. He also had help from one of his teachers, who stayed after school hours to tutor him.

Despite his family’s condition, the reportedly well-behaved teenager always went to school neatly dressed and refused financial assistance from his teachers.

Phugeneswaran, who wants to be a lawyer, happened to be the only student in his school who personally thanked all his teachers after receiving his results last week.

This is a kid with a bright future ahead of him. His success is a slap on the face of people who think their children can fare well in life only if they put them through expensive private schools. Spending money like water does not guarantee excellent academic performance from your children.

Phugeneswaran thumbed his nose at poverty and, in the process, set a good example for his younger siblings to follow.

Let’s hope that his ambition won’t be hampered by lack of funds and rejection from higher education institutions, which are obstructions that have been placed in the path of many high achievers in this country. The relevant authorities must take note of this youngster’s potential and give him the opportunity he deserves.