SIXTEEN-year-old Janeil Williams is the first to admit that he is a troublemaker who likes to have “fun, regardless” of whatever else is going on around him.

In fact, he said he would most likely be remembered during his sojourn at Ferncourt High school in Claremont, St Ann, as a troublemaker.

“I normally give a lot of trouble. I always like having fun; regardless,” he told the Observer.

But this is not the only memory Janeil will leave behind.

He will also be remembered as the young man who liked to put off studying until two days before an examination, but who would nevertheless emerge with high grades.

He did it in internal exams and also in the recent CXC exams.

He gained 11 CXC passes, including nine grade ones and two grade twos.

Described by Ferncourt principal Veronica Archer as “no bookworm”, Janeil achieved grade ones in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Human & Social Biology, Spanish, English, Mathematics, Principles of Business and Agricultural Science, and grade twos in History and Information Technology.

How did he do it?

“To be honest,” Janeil told the Observer, “I normally study only when I have examination. I do not study all the while. I was really, really studying two nights before each subject. I normally study the night before, even though I hear it’s not a good practice.”

During the school year, Janeil was also involved in a number of school activities. He was, for example, a member of the school’s Environmental Club, the 4H Club, the United Nations Club and the Schools’ Challenge team, which keep him busy during term time.

Outside of school hours, he also made time to engage in his favourite hobbies, which include browsing the internet, watching the TV (“of course!”), listening to music and learning the latest dance moves.

No doubt aware of his hectic schedule and study habits, Janeil told the Observer that he was surprised that he had done so well in his exams.

“I was not expecting this, I am overjoyed,” he said.

But this is strange coming from Janeil, who is no stranger to success.

For example, from first to third form he alternately shared the top spot for scoring high grades with his best friend.

Janeil, who has three brothers and three sisters – not all of them his mother’s children – had a tough tradition to uphold.

One of his sister’s had won a full scholarship to FIU, made the Dean’s List and graduated last year. One of his cousins had previously gained nine subjects, and is now doing his final year at the University of the West Indies (UWI), while another cousin, Japhia Langley, is a manager’s assistant at a branch of the National Commercial Bank. They all achieved remarkable examination results.

“It’s like a family tradition [ to get good CXC passes],” remarked Janeil, who grew up in Carlton Mountain, Claremont, with his grandmother, aunts and cousins.

He told the Observer that his family members were “extremely excited,” and that his mother, Maxine Johnson, was “shocked”.

“The teachers were very happy. As for my classmates, most of them say they were expecting it – I don’t know how comes. Some say it was not surprising,” Janeil said.

Janeil’s cousin Japhia Langley was not surprised at the CXC results.

“I feel good about it,” Langley said, but added: “It is something that is expected. He had one job and that is to pay attention to his school work. It is a family tradition. The number of ones was a surprise, but overall anything less would have been a surprise; and based on his grades throughout, I am not surprised,” Langley added.

Janeil, who will be 17 in November, will do sixth form at Ardenne High and “probably” go on to further studies at “the University (of the West Indies) or probably go to Cuba to study medicine”.

Meanwhile, Janeil said he wanted to publicly thank all those who had helped him achieve success, among them:

“My cousin Japhia Langley; she gave a lot both financially and emotionally. She was one of the driving forces,” he admitted.

“I would like to say thanks to all the teachers at Ferncourt High School. Ferncourt is a very good school, by the way! I love Mrs Archer, the principal, she was very inspirational,” Janeil added.