Amarlia, Shenique: Read a lot and remain focused

Students who will be sitting the 2013 Common Entrance examinations are being advised to read a lot and remain focused.{{more}}

This advice comes from two of the top students in this year’s examinations, Amarlia Benn and Shenique Thomas, students of the St Mary’s Roman Catholic school.

Shenique placed 3rd for girls and 7th overall, while Amarlia placed 6th for girls and 10th overall.

The students graduated on Monday and following the ceremony at the St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Shenique’s parents, Carlos and Sonia Thomas told SEARCHLIGHT that they are very proud of their daughter’s achievement.

“I feel very well and she has always been a top student since Kindergarten and I knew she would have done well,” said Sonia.

The smiling mom said preparation leading up the exams was no stress for young Shenique, as she maintained her usual routine of doing her homework and reading a lot.

Shenique said she is happy and proud of her performance and is eagerly looking forward to achieving more at the secondary level.

Meanwhile, Amarlia’s parents Silky Benn and Karen Anderson were grinning from ear to ear.

Amarlia is the twin sister of Gabrielle, who also wrote the Common Entrance exams, placing 22nd for girls and 44th overall.

“I am very proud of my two daughters’ achievement. They worked very hard throughout their years at RC,” Karen said.

She, however, noted that the girls had to balance their school work and extracurricular activities, but in the end, their hard work paid off.

“They tried to balance their school work with everything else. I didn’t take anything away from them. I let them play their tennis. I let them do their dancing and even let them watch television, but not too late at night,” the overjoyed mother disclosed.

Dad, Silky Benn, said he was satisfied with both of his girls’ performance, as he expected them to do well.

“At the beginning of the common entrance class, Amarlia said she was going to come first, but she made it to the top ten and I’m satisfied,” Silky added.

Amarlia, meanwhile, said she too was proud of her achievement and that of her sister.

Principal of the school Sister Ivy Pacheco said she is pleased with her students’ performance.(AA)