Shantay continues perfect run

In 2015, 16-year-old Shantay Williams was one of the students who got a perfect score in that year's Grade Six Achievement Test. Having gone on to Campion College, Williams has secured nine grade ones in one sitting in the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Williams bagged ones in mathematics, add maths, information technology, biology, chemistry, English A, English B, French and Spanish.

"I wasn't surprised because I had put in the work, and I would always pray before every exam, so the results were expected. I got all ones but I was a bit disappointed I didn't get a straight-A profile for biology and chemistry because my labs were all great. I am grateful, regardless," Williams told THE STAR.

But despite her habitual academic success, the scholar doesn't consider herself a 'bright' student. And that invariably adds extra pressure when it comes on to examinations.

"Maybe my biggest challenge would be that I don't think I am naturally bright, so I always try to put in extra work regarding my studies. Also, the community I am from, people might not expect much from the young people, but I want to be a product of success so I can set an example, therefore I am working hard so I don't fall in that status quo," the Spanish Town resident said.

"I want to make my parents, my community -- both home and school -- and my country at large proud."

CSEC, in its own way, has been unique for all students who sat exams this year. All they knew, where schooling is concerned, was uprooted. Williams says that was another deterring factor.

"None of us was prepared for this pandemic and it came with a lot of changes, regionally, for all of us; but most, if not all of us adapted and worked hard nonetheless. Also, my school was very taken aback by the sudden change from face-to-face to remote learning, but they adapted quickly for their students and I am very grateful for this."

The aspiring paediatrician and international fashion model comforts her peers who weren't as successful in their exams.

"My heart goes out to others who didn't get their desired results, but do know that you can always try again, and these grades don't define us. This is not the end."