EXCITEMENT AND SATISFACTION are two emotions that 11-year-old Kaela Bobb experienced when she learned that she had placed second for girls and second overall in this year’s CPEA examinations.

Kaela, who was valedictorian of the Kingstown Preparatory School’s 2022 graduating class, told SEARCHLIGHT that she felt “really, really good” about her achievement because she worked really hard to attain it.

“I went to extra classes on the weekends and I got help from my mommy and auntie and I did lots of past papers,” she said, adding that the Mathematics exam posed the most challenge for her, while Social Studies was the easiest.

The daughter of Kejoe Browne-Etienne and Mark Bobb was one of two students who scored 100 per cent for Social Studies.

She thanked God, her family circle, including stepfather, Christopher Etienne and her aunt and “second mom”, Rhandez Browne, all of her teachers,

the Fitz Academy, and all her well-wishers for the support they gave her during preparations for CPEA.

Because of her interest in building things with legos, Kaela has her sights set on becoming an engineer in the future.

The young scholar also told SEARCHLIGHT that while she’s not sure of the plans to celebrate her most recent academic achievement, she is certain that “it’s something great”.

Proud mother, Kejoe Browne-Etienne could not contain her joy when she found out about her eldest daughter’s CPEA performance.

“I just wanted to lift her up and show her all the love and the pride that was emanating from me and all of her family members,” she said. “I really, really thank God that she was able to, with consistent hard work, that it has finally paid off. I know that she has been a consistent student throughout her entire primary school career and it paid off, so glory to God for that. I give Him all the praise.”

When asked what advice she would impart to parents whose children will sit the CPEA in the

future, Browne-Etienne quoted her daughter’s valedictory speech, where parents were asked to “look at their child or children and to see that they are masterpieces, each of them, uniquely crafted and created by God, each of them has their own race to run”.

She also pleaded with the parents — and I’ll do it here — “not to compare them with others or try to force them or make them run anyone else’s race.”

To the students who will sit the CPEA, Kaela encourages them to avoid distractions but not to push too hard “because it won’t make sense at all”.

“You have to work hard but find some time to relax,” she said.

The young scholar intends to attend the Girls High School in the upcoming academic year.