GHS student leads for girls in CSEC exams

Jessica Prescott, the top performing female in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) admits that she never expected to be the top performer for girls.

Prescott, who was a member of the Form 5 Science class at the Girls’ High School told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview on Wednesday at her home at Dorsetshire Hill that she was a bit worried heading into the exam.{{more}}

“I tried my very best and I knew that I would do really well, but to say top, I don’t know. I thought I would have been among the top…” She said that she is quite relieved, happy and proud of herself.

The 17-year-old sat 12 subjects and gained 11 grade ones and one grade two in her subjects.

Prescott has dreams of being an engineer and plans to study Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and a foreign language at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC).

She told SEARCHLIGHT that in order to prepare for her exams, she had to limit her social media and television time.

“I could not study on my bed because that made me fall asleep. My group of friends, we put together this timetable that we tried to stick by…,” she explained.

Prescott, who was also headgirl of the GHS stated that while it was difficult at times, her responsibilities at the school helped to mould her.

Her advice to students who will write exams next year is simple, do not procrastinate.

“The people who have done CSEC before me warned me and next year I am going to warn them. Because I didn’t really take the advice that was given to me that seriously about procrastination, especially with my SBA’s.”

Prescott’s parents Judy and Cyril Prescott are extremely proud of their daughter’s achievement. “I am very proud. I knew she would have done well to be the top two,” her mother gushed.

“She swell my nose again, she made me proud. Jessica, she’s one who studies hard but she is very focused. She has a very good memory so whatever she set her heart to do, she will accomplish,” dad Cyril said.

Judy noted that during Jessica’s studies, she would be the timekeeper and would try to keep Jessica focused as much as possible. Cyril said his sole duty was getting her to her exams on time.

Judy shared that the spiritual aspect must not be omitted. “We are Christians and that heads the list for me. Steer them in that direction, ask God for the strength and guidance because he makes all things possible.”

Headmistress of the Girls’ High School Andrea Bowman told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview on Wednesday that she expected Prescott to be the school’s top performer. “Because of the number of subjects that she did. She is the only one who did 13,” she pointed out.

The Headmistress pointed out that not many students went for a large number of subjects this year.

Bowman noted that one of Prescott’s greatest qualities is that she could be depended on to get things done when required. “She was sufficiently outstanding to have been selected to be head girl. Jessica is dependable and that is one of the things that stands out most about her.”

She also mentioned that Prescott was one the students who sat CSEC General Math in form four and gained a grade one in the subject, bringing the total number of subjects she now has to 14. (CM)