Tobago's top SEA students were recently recognised by bmobile for their outstanding performances.
Despite the challenges of remote school and changes in the final exam dates, the students all reflected on their successes and discussed their secrets to success. Interestingly, Bishop’s High School was selected by all top three students as their first choice for secondary school.
Ranking in order of placement in Tobago were Jole St John of Scarborough Methodist, Raeya Charles of St Andrew's Anglican and Xzehanny Hazel of Black Rock Government. All three received gifts of broadband connectivity from bmobile to assist them.
[caption id="attachment_919126" align="alignnone" width="995"] Tobago's top 2021 SEA performer Jole St John is flanked by her mother, Tricilia St John, left, and Jamilla Warrick, communications events and sponsorship officer, TSTT Tobago, at a function recently. Gerard Cooper, general manager, shared services at TSTT, recognised the challenges that parents, students and the Ministry of Education faced in an unprecedented year, noting the "tectonic shift in education that had to happen for schooling and examinations to continue." Cooper added, "Youth development remains one of the areas that we are most passionate about aside from our work as the nation's only truly local provider of communications.[/caption]
"We do our best to uphold pillars in education as much as we do in co-curricular endeavours, sports and community engagement as we recognise that the investment in youth is easily one of the most rewarding. Our contribution in ensuring that as many as 10,000 students were provided with connectivity and smart devices last year shows just how passionate we are.
"Today we also salute the parents, teachers, and officials at the Ministry of Education who faced many hurdles to bring those in their care through this process successfully."
He also urged students who did not achieve the school of their choice, to not let it define their path, but to make the most of the opportunity in front of each of them.
Reflecting on the exam, St John thanked God for her achievement.
"Now that the exam has passed, I mostly feel a sense of relief that my sacrifices were rewarding," she said.
"God, first of all, played a major role in my success, as did the dedication and commitment of my parents, which can't go unmentioned."
St John noted her achievement was the product of a "strong support system."
She said, "Special mention must also go to Mrs Amena Sandy, my Standard 4-5 teacher at Scarborough Methodist Primary School; Ms Melanie Trim at Sure Pass Tutoring Ltd and Mrs Kimarie Richardson-Thomas at the Academy of Creative English." She credited her success to "hard wo
