Top student Iana says her performance was no surprise

Iana Ferguson, the top student in this year’s Common Entrance examinations, says that she knew that she was going to be the top student from as far back as Grade 2.{{more}}

The Kingstown Preparatory School (KPS) student, while speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, remained calm as she explained that hearing the news that she did accomplish her goal was no surprise to her.

“I have been looking to this moment for years,” she said.

After all, she said that she has always performed well throughout her years at the KPS and remained confident; but there were a few nerves.

“I thought initially that I got plenty wrong,” Ferguson said, as she reacted to her expectations after completing the exams on June 1.

But 11-year-old Iana held on, recording scores of 92.5 per cent in English, 96.67 per cent in Mathematics and 96.67 percent in General Paper, for an overall overage of 95.16 percent.

She also managed to be the top scorer in English and one of four students to top score in General Paper.

Outside the classroom, the aspiring scientist plays the violin and says that she has a passion for the classics.

She attributed her success in the General Paper to her involvement in music.

Her joy in reading has also contributed immensely to her overall performance in the classroom, according to mom, Fay Ferguson and being a well- mannered individual has earned her the position of prefect at her school.

But above all else, Iana has been able to accomplish so much and do so well, despite being the product of a single parent household.

Iana, who will attend the Girls’ High School in September, was quick to thank her mom and her teachers at school for helping her prepare for the examination.

“I think her success is attributed to proper parenting,” Fay told SEARCHLIGHT.

She added that there were so many young people with children, but there was a great need for proper parenting.

“And we need more of this in the society,” the proud mother explained.

She contended that she wanted to change the perception held by some that an individual coming from a single parent household could not top any examination, because they need a father.

“But if you dedicate yourself and you put all into a child, and your child has proper discipline, then it could happen,” she said.

According to mom, Iana possessed a natural ability and has always been in the top three throughout her primary school career.

In fact, the reality that she is the top student out of more than 2000 students has not yet set in.

“She is a person who likes to get 100 per cent…when she gets 98, she cries,” Fay said, adding that the night before the results were released, they joked about what would happen if it turned out that she had placed second and not first.

“She said that she will tell them to remark the paper,” Fay said.

“Parenting, that’s my thing – a lot of parents allow their children to parent them; they don’t parent their children,” mom said. (DD)