JALINE Smith, 11, has earned herself the distinction of being the top-performing Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) student for West Indies College Preparatory (WICP) School in Mandeville.

Smith, the school’s head girl, scored a 97 per cent average — six per cent more than her nearest peer who scored 91 per cent.

“When I got the result… I was very excited because I know that I had worked hard and though there were some challenges with some aspects of the exam, I did my best and by God’s grace I came through,” said the young student who was also the valedictorian at her graduation on June 26.

“I prayed a lot before and during the exam, asking God to help me with each question and I came out victorious. I thank God for that,” she added.

Her teacher Paulette Nation said she had expected nothing less.

“She is a disciplined, well-behaved all-rounder and leader, who has always done outstanding work,” the educator said.

“I had expected her to get full marks in the subjects because that is what she normally gets in class, consistently. She can take charge of the class and she is highly respected by the students. You can call upon her anytime to do something and even if she is not prepared, she always excels,” Nation added.

Smith is also very active in her church.

“She is really a gifted child,” said Lisa-marie Samuels, church secretary at Rest Store Seventh-day Adventist Church. “She sings, preaches, conducts Bible class and youth programmes, and also plays a lead role at times in the main worship service. She stands out as a good future youth leader and is an example to her peers and also adults.”

Her mother Janett Smith could hardly contain her joy at her daughter’s performance.

“I am a very proud of her, and I also speak on behalf of her father. She is a very independent person who will help with home chores. She balances her home, school and church life well and still finds time to do a lot of reading and watch television,” she said of her daughter who will, in September, attend Victor Dixon High.

The 11-year-old received a full, five-year scholarship from that institution, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Of the 44 students of WICP who sat the GSAT, 24 passed for traditional high schools with a combined average of 90.2 per cent.