FAMILY and friends of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholar Aliah Byfield always saw her as a star, especially since her appearance on the front page of the Jamaica Observer 10 years ago.

She has not disappointed them.

On the morning of Monday, May 7, 2007, when Aliah was a mere two-year-old girl in her mother’s arms holding her sippy cup, little did she know that the image, captured by senior photographer Joseph Wellington, would be carried on the front page of the newspaper that day. It was truly an honour for Byfield’s family as, according to her mother Alaphia, they were going to be seen nationally, and be in the archives forever.

“I was saying how did the photographer’s eye see this? It was very excited because I had persons calling and saying: ‘I saw you on the front of the paper this morning!’ and I said, ‘no, I’m not on the front of the paper.’ Then when I went on the road and saw it I said, oh my God this is so nice… really nice’,” an elated Alaphiah said.

It was then she believed that Aliah was going to be a star.

Today, Aliah continues to shine bright and, according to Alaphia, she has been an excellent student. Her 98 per cent average in GSAT, earned her a placement at Wolmer’s High School for Girls in Kingston, and she has also maintained a space on the honour roll since grade one at Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School in Old Harbour, St Catherine, from which she graduated and spoke as valedictorian recently.

As expected, the preparation for GSAT was quite tedious, according to Byfield, but she handled the challenge with utmost care, being guided by parents Paul and Alaphiah Byfield, who have always encouraged and motivated her.

Alaphia often reminded her that the one year of preparing for the “big exam” should be worthwhile, as it will determine where her life will go for the next seven years in high school. “I always tell her, ‘Listen, you have to get that coal off your diamond so your diamond can shine. And she keeps saying: ‘Alright let me do this, I can’t wait for GSAT to be over’,” Alaphiah shared.

Byfield’s father added that, because she’s engaged in a number of activities, they try to create a balance, and some sacrifices had to be made, such as putting away electronic gadgets and time spent watching television in order to meet the goal. “Now and again she would do her swimming, she also plays netball at her school, she does music as well, she plays the piano, so we try to create that balance,” Paul said.

Byfield was among the top three performers in the recent GSAT at her school. She ranked second with a 98 per cent average just behind the top performer who had an average of 98.2 per cent.

Based on the information received from the school, Byfield said that she is to receive an award from the prime minister.

The family was contacted by Jamaica Energy Partners (JEP) as she is to be a recipient of a scholarship also. As promised by JEP, if she maintains a B+ average throughout high school, she will receive a scholarship annually, courtesy of them.

Reminding herself about some of the negative factors, Alaphia mentioned that the Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School still has a shift system which poses many challenges for students and teachers, and complaints about the negative impact on their academic progress are many. “When you have to go to school in the middle of the day some of the students complain that it really interferes with their time spent with the teachers, but I think they did their best. Hopefully they’re among the schools that will see a change very soon,” Alaphiah shared.

Paul added that he too was under pressure because of his friends who believed that a gifted child like Aliah should attend one of the more sought-after primary or preparatory schools.

But he held on to his belief that Marlie Mount is an excellent school and it mattered not what school you attended as long as you were a bright and promising individual. “We persevered, and she didn’t want to leave either,” he said heartily.

Alaphia also mentioned that what influenced their decision to place their daughter in that institution was that it was in close proximity to home. “When I look off my balcony I see the school, so I have no regrets. I wouldn’t have chosen another…the teachers are committed, they work with the limited resources that they have,” she said, adding that the teachers and principal are committed and resourceful, which is what she admires most.

The family told the Sunday Observer that they were proud of the young one’s achievements. She is now attending summer school and getting familiar with the school’s environment and her fellow peers. “It was my desired pass because I think it’s a good school that will help me to become well rounded,” Aliah stated.

As a lover of swimming, Byfield mentioned how more excited she was when she saw the swimming pool and what her expectations were upon gaining certain insights about Wolmer’s Girls.

She maintains that she will get a good education and become a professional swimmer.

Asked how she felt about the entire experience, she responded: “I feel accomplished and happy.”