The bond that 12-year-old Jayanna Brown forged with her best friend, Alianna King, since grade five at St Richard’s Primary School in St Andrew is poised to grow even stronger as the two head off to Campion College.

Both girls were placed at Campion after acing the most recent sitting of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), scoring 97 per cent.

Knowing that she will have her best friend by her side in high school is something that Brown is ecstatic about. Her parents, too, are excited.

“I am feeling very elated that I was able to pass for my school of choice along with my best friend Alianna. I am very proud. The journey wasn’t that difficult because I have the mentality and perseverance to work hard and study. I had the support of my parents, teachers, family members, and friends. I am looking forward to the academic competition, making new friends, meeting new people, joining new clubs, and just the new experience of high school,” Jayanna told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday.

Her father, Jerome Brown, expressed that he was extremely proud of his daughter’s achievement and said it was “amazing to see that two brilliant young ladies became friends and are trodding the same path”.

“She has somebody to encourage her. They can produce friendly competition to push each other. Even though they are friends, they try to outdo each other, which is good. It is healthy competition. She spent years working hard and we as parents have put in the work and dedicated our time and energy to ensure her success. Finally it has paid off.

“We are a humble family. All our energy went into exactly this. To see it come to reality and materialise, it is a joy. It is just for her to continue on this path and continue the trend. We are expecting the most from her,” Brown said.

Overjoyed, Jayanna’s mother, Trudy Ann Bocan, said the journey cost a lot of money but was pleased that the sacrifice she made was not in vain.

“I am feeling proud. We have been preparing for this from grade five. We have been doing the extra lessons and we stayed up late nights studying with her to ensure she understood the topics, and with that hard work, this is the result,” she said.