RURAL schools continue to beat the odds as they reap success in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). The results often highlight the hard work and dedication of students and teachers, some of whom are from the country’s most under-resourced schools. Here are some success stories from some of our brightest young minds in St Ann.

Pastal heads to Kingston College

Pastal Jones is small in size and could easily be mistaken for a student from a lower grade. However, the head boy of Charlton Primary in Alexandria, St Ann, has no fear of making the transition from rural Jamaica to the city, where he is expected to continue his studies at Kingston College (KC).

“I am not afraid,” Pastal told the Jamaica Observer North and East. I intend to work even harder when I get to KC.” When asked how he prepared for GSAT, Pastal said paying attention in class was the key.

“It is better when you store it in your head than to study,” he said, adding “I had to balance the duties I had at school, schoolwork and play time.”

He could not give up playing cricket and football even as he prepared for a defining moment in his life. “I enjoyed myself while I prepared for GSAT,” he said, noting that a little television was in the mix.

The 90.1-average student said he would like to become a paediatrician one day.

Amoya intends to utilise York Castle’s cricket programme

Amoya Lamont is happy to be heading to York Castle High School in Brown’s Town, St Ann, for more than one reason. Apart from being another ‘A’ student attending the institution, Amoya wants to develop her talent as a young cricketer.

“I wanted to go to York Castle because of the cricket programme,” the deputy head girl at Bethany Primary School in St Ann said. The young sports enthusiast, who was a part of her primary school’s cricket team, has a passion for the sport.

The 11-year-old said she expected to do well in GSAT and so was not surprised that she was placed at York Castle High, the institution her mother attended and where her brother is now a student.

“I feel excited,” she said.

The aspiring medical doctor averaged 90.2 in GSAT.

Kesia Bent anticipates doing well at Westwood High

Kesia Bent has already set goals she hopes to achieve as she makes her transition from Bethany Primary School to Westwood High School in Trelawny.

The 12-year-old from Greenhill, St Ann, told the Jamaica Observer North and East that she intends to do well and hopes to become a student leader at the all-girls institution.

“I am looking forward to doing well at Westwood and to probably becoming head girl,” she said.

Kesia, who averaged 94.5 in GSAT, wants to become a scientist. She scored 100 per cent in integrated science.

The young achiever also said she is happy to have been placed at Westwood, an institution she has always admired.

“I chose Westwood because of the academic level,” she said, adding that she loves the uniform of the institution and is looking forward to wearing her Jippi Jappa hat in September.

Tyrone Archibald is proud of his achievements

Tyrone Archibald may not have received the award for top boy in the 2016 Grade Six Achievement Test at his graduation recently, but the student from Retirement Primary School in St Ann was nevertheless very proud of his accomplishment.

Tyrone shed tears of joy when he was given the Chairman’s Award for the Most Improved Student. Those attending the school leaving ceremony were also moved to tears when they heard his story.

Six years ago when Tyrone started Retirement Primary, he could not spell his name. Tyrone not only conquered that situation, but also earned a place at the Ferncourt High School in the parish.

“I feel very good,” Tyrone, who scored 80 per cent in integrated science, said.

“Mi feel good; Mi proud a mi son bad,” his mother, Annette Jackson added.

“mi proud a him man. He moved me to tears,” Rhona Green, a member of the community also said.

Tyrone wants to become a soldier.