Akayla is top performer for girls in 2021 CSEC

After a stressful final year at secondary school, Akayla Crichton is happy to have come out unscathed and one of this year’s top CSEC performers in St Vincent and the Grenadines. 

The 16-year-old sat 14 subjects and attained 11 Grade ones and three grade twos, landing her among two other exceptional scholars in the country. 

“I was very scared because this was a very stressful year for all of us and I knew it was going to be hard to attain grade ones so I’m very proud of myself,” Akayla, a recent graduate of the Girls’ High School told SEARCHLIGHT this week.

“Since last year, we’ve been online and then we had to start back later due to corona, and then there was also dengue and then there was also a volcanic eruption. So we weren’t really sure when we were going to get back to school, how fast we would have to finish the syllabus so it was really stressful.” 

Despite the challenges, the young scholar found time to relax and de-stress so that she didn’t become overwhelmed when studying. 

At the 2021 sitting, Akayla obtained Grade one passes in English A, English B, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, IT, Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts, Spanish, Economics and Electronic Document Preparation and Management. 

Her Grade twos were in Advanced Math, Geography and Social Studies. 

Akayla also sat General Math in the fourth form and received a Grade one pass, which secured her an overall total of 15 passes at CSEC. 
To students sitting the exams in the upcoming year, the aspiring aeronautical engineer would say “find a balance between schoolwork and free time so that you don’t overwhelm yourself”. 

Her balance meant taking a nap whenever she got home and studying in the early morning from about midnight to 3 a.m. 

Akeila Crichton, Akayla’s mother, told SEARCHLIGHT that the entire family is proud of her success. 

“She has always excelled, especially academically from a very young age,” she said, noting that Akayla placed third for girls and 8th overall at the CPEA exams in 2016. 

Crichton added that the former head girl is a disciplined, studious and grounded individual who found what worked for her and persevered.
 
Akayla will celebrate her 17th birthday on November 17 and plans are underway to make it an extra special celebration, given her most recent achievement. 

She intends to attend the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College, where she will study Math, Physics, Computer Science and either Chemistry or Economics.