Remedial student shows hard work pays off

Since the start of universal access to secondary education here, remediated students have proven that they are extremely capable of achieving excellence.{{more}}

On Tuesday, 19-year-old D’Mario Browne was presented with the LIME award for “Top Performer Overall after Remediation,” during the annual National Awards Ceremony.

Browne’s story is truly an inspiring one that had Ministry of Education officials and members of the audience giving him a rousing round of applause and standing ovation, as he went to receive his award.

In 2007, the Carriere resident entered the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia, after placing 1807 in the Common Entrance Examinations. Although he should have been reading at a Grade 7 level, Browne was only reading at a Grade 2 level in Form one.

Browne, who also copped the “Top Male Performer after Remediation” award, attempted 11 subjects at the CSEC examinations in 2013 and of those, he received 10 subject passes, with Grade 2s in Clothing and Textiles, Home Management, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Physical Education and Agricultural Science and Grade 3s in English Language, English Literature, Information Technology and Principles of Business.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, the teen expressed his elation over winning the award and attributed his success to the support of his family.

“It feels good but I can’t believe I got an award. I’m speechless, like I’m shocked that me, myself did that, so it’s a good thing,” he said. “My inspiration was really how my mother and father worked so hard to send me to school. I wanted to ensure that their money was not wasted so I worked hard to make them feel proud.”

Last year, the “Top Performer Overall after Remediation” award was also presented to a former student of the EHSM.

In fact, this has also been the case in 2008 and 2010 and each time, the school was awarded with “School with Best Results after Remediation”.

Principal, Curtis Greaves is extremely pleased with his students who continue to produce results at the end of their secondary education.

“I am very excited to see that the school continues to perform well and that students who some persons may condemn and write off, can achieve and do well at CXC,” he said. “When a student comes into Emmanuel and was placed at 1807 and was reading at Grade 2, but can obtain 10 subjects, it tells you that a lot of value was added over the five or six years that the student was here and I’m very happy.”

Currently, Browne is a student of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, Division of Arts, Sciences and General Studies. He is doing an Associate’s Degree in Business and would like to pursue a career in marketing.

In addition to thanking his school, Browne thanked God and his mother and father, Clare and Lennox Browne and his family for supporting him and providing him with encouragement when he needed it the most.

The 19-year-old advises anyone who may be struggling with school work to always strive for excellence.

“Get something that motivates you to work hard and never give up. Although you have limited resources and a lot of negativity on your shoulder, ask for help and strive to be the best you can be,” the positive teen said. (BK)