Janna Lue – Morant Bay High School’s high achiever
“START STUDYING from early, manage your time wisely, don’t let the SBAs pile up and use the syllabus as a guide.”
Those were the words of Janna Lue, a high achiever in the recent CSEC examinations, seemingly expert advice as the Morant Bay High School student now has nine grade ones and two grade twos on her résumé.
Janna, who admits that she has always been an above-average achiever, told The Gleaner that she spent two years in the 10th grade.
“I started school in the US. Then, in grade 10, I came to Morant Bay High School where I had to repeat the grade because of the two-year syllabus,” she said, sharing that even while she was in Virginia she had a perfect score in the state exam.
Relocations have proven to cause unsettlement and distractions especially in children Janna’s age, but, for her, it had little to no effect.
“Though readjusting to the Jamaican education system was not an easy task, I was placed in an accelerated math programme in which I prepared for math and add maths in one year, doing my CXC mathematics in fourth form and additional mathematics in fifth.”
To no surprise, both results were positive and of the highest calibre.
Startling, though, was the scholar’s revelation that, like many, many others, she has never liked mathematics.
PREPARATIONS
“I credit Mrs Hyatt (her maths teacher) and my father for opening my eyes. I am now fonder of the subject and I’m now planning to attack pure maths this school year,” Janna said of her prepara- tions for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) unit.
Janna Lue lives in Portland, so she had to endure the hectic journey to and from school on a daily basis.
“Living in Manchioneal, my commute to school was longer than most of my peers. I would often leave home at 6 a.m. and get back at around 8 in the evening. The long hours away from home caused my mother to worry about the amount of time I would have to study, but I knew I was getting the preparation I needed from school and my own studying,” she said, adding that the extended and Saturday classes paid off.
The 17-year-old describes herself as a hard worker and a big dreamer. It was for that reason she decided against her mother’s advice to add accounts to the list of subjects she did.
“This could diversify my subject pool, and I was determined to get a one in the subject, which I did,” she said using this as another testimony of her achievements.
Janna credits herself and the support from her family for fuelling her drive to her accomplishments.
“Also, I’m inspired by the limitless possibilities that education offers. I knew I had to work hard to fuel my dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Although many days were bleak, I knew I could not roll over and die. I had to maintain a positive mindset, as I know I will be going to school for many more years,” the determined student said.