Vincentian places second in Courts OECS Primary School Reading Competition

St Vincent and the Grenadines may have moved one step closer to capturing the elusive title of Courts OECS Primary Schools Reading Champion.

Joelle Campbell did her country proud when she placed second in the regional tournament, which took place in Dominica on Thursday, March 3, winning the narrative segment of the competition, but narrowly losing the news item piece to the eventual winner, St Kitts/Nevis’ Hrishikesh Srinivasan.{{more}}

Jazz Dias of Antigua and Barbuda placed third. The other participants were Madanah Auguiste of Dominica, Eden Otway of Grenada and Arianne Mercier of St Lucia.

Campbell said that although she wanted to win the competition and bring the title home, she is satisfied that she gave her all.

“I felt that I did my best and that’s all that matters. God has done it for a reason – I don’t know why, but I am satisfied,” the nine-year-old grade four pupil of the Spring Village Methodist School said.

Campbell said that on the day of the competition, she was very confident and was grateful for the opportunity to be an ambassador for her country.

For placing second, Campbell earned herself a certificate of participation, a trophy, one HP laptop, EC$3,000 in cash, and a Smartphone from Digicel, to add to the gifts and prizes she won during the local leg of the competition.

She said that she was grateful for all the support she received on her quest to the title.

“I want to thank God most of all. He did what He needed to do and helped me to do it. I would also like to thank my mom, who was my coach, my literacy coordinator, my school, my cheerleaders, all of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and also my dad, who is my biggest fan,” Campbell said.

She said that she was really hoping that the competition could come to St Vincent and the Grenadines this year, but although it is not the case this time, she is looking forward to this country’s next representative winning the competition and ending the drought for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“My advice to the students out there who might be in the next local competition is to keep reading, keep going at it and to keep praying to God and He will help you.”