‘I have potential to reach far and to do great’

Many people do not usually associate standard English with the rural areas of St Vincent, but one student has challenged that notion with her exceptional performance in the area of Language at this year’s Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA).{{more}}

Eleven-year-old pupil of the Fancy Government School Marika Baptiste recorded 94 per cent in Language Arts at this year’s CPEA, the highest score. She shares the spotlight with Petersville Primary School pupil Rianna Blake who also gained 94 per cent.

“I feel so excited. I’m enthusiastic about what I have accomplished and I can’t wait for more,” said Marika who will continue her education at the Girls’ High School (GHS) in September.

She told SEARCHLIGHT that some persons think that because you come from a certain place, you can’t achieve certain things or that you can’t speak a certain way, but that is not the case.

“I say that it does not matter where you come from once you have the knowledge and the potential to learn and once you are willing, you can do anything…. I don’t care what they say, because I know I have the potential to reach far and to do great things,” said Marika.

Placing 5th for girls and 17th overall, Marika told SEARCHLIGHT that the most challenging part of the exam was Science. She scored 92 per cent for Science and 84 per cent for Mathematics.

“I did not get to do all the things that came in the test but I got to pull it off. I have to give thanks to my grandmother (Juney Baptiste) because she was there with me through it all and my parents (Alfred Layne and Bernadette Baptiste) were behind me all the time,” revealed Marika.

She added, “studying is not an easy thing at all and I have to give credit to my grade 6 teacher Decita Stay. She was there through it all and she gave me the topics to study and I will also like to thank all the teachers and the principals of the school.”

Marika’s grandmother Juney Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT that she is extremely pleased about her granddaughter’s performance.

“I just want to give thanks to God and thank the teachers for the effort they have put in but from ever since Marika came into my life and she started talking and walking, I knew that she would do very well.”

Juney said that her granddaughter loves to read and would usually read a book every night before she goes to bed.

Eleven pupils from the Fancy Government School sat the CPEA, with six attaining the required standard.

On Wednesday, Marika placed second in the Primary School Public Speaking Competition and was rewarded with a desktop computer.

It has been claimed that Marika is the first pupil from the Fancy Government School to do so well at the secondary school entrance exam. SEARCHLIGHT has however been unable to confirm these reports.(LC)