MONTEGO BAY, St James — Seventeen-year-old Haley Robinson is looking forward to her sixth-form years after an impressive performance in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Haley accumulated 10 distinctions while completing 10th and 11th grades at Montego Bay High School for Girls in St James. She was the top student for both years. Looking back at the slow start she had to high school, she said she never doubted that she would eventually find her footing and excel.

“In grade seven I was at home because of COVID, so I didn’t do that well. I still did well considering the COVID, but not as well as I did in grades nine, 10 and 11,” she explained.

The teenager cannot recall her placement for seventh grade but she does remember that in eighth grade she placed seventh in her class, she was third in ninth grade then first in grades 10 and 11.

Robinson attributes her improvement to the motivation provided by teachers who encouraged students to get serious as they moved on to third form.

“I feel like in grade eight, when I was transitioning to grade nine, the teachers kept on telling us, ‘This is the year you need to buckle down, this was the year you need to get serious!’ So I wrote down my goals and I worked towards them every day,” she told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview.

“I wanted to come top three, be on the principal’s honour roll and then the goals just started progressing over time,” she continued.

Haley has had many wins. She aced Spanish and information technology in grade 10 and did the same with eight subjects in her final year.

“This year I did mathematics, English, chemistry, biology, theatre arts, textile clothing and fashion, principles of business, and principles of accounts,” Robinson told the Sunday Observer.

Robinson said chemistry was her favourite and it is among the group of subjects she now plans to tackle at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) level.

“Next step is sixth form at MoBay High, where I plan to do the sciences in CAPE: chemistry, biology, pure maths, and communication studies,” she disclosed.

She is proud of all that she has accomplished through hard work, including being the valedictorian at her school’s recent graduation for 11th graders.

“I feel good; I feel accomplished because last year I wanted to achieve this — the top student — and I worked hard towards it every day. It feels good to accomplish it finally,” she said.

“It meant focusing in class, coming home studying, doing my homework all the time and still balancing extracurricular activities,” she highlighted.

Haley balanced schoolwork with being president of the Spanish Club, a member of the Girl Guides Association of Jamaica, in addition to participating in her school’s computer and tourism action clubs.

She said that while she has put in the hard work, she is grateful to the Almighty, her parents and others who helped her along the way.

“I had a lot of support from my parents — helping me with my homework, projects, school-based assessments, and supporting me with the extracurricular things that I wanted to do.

“I also got a lot of help from my teachers. They were amazing; they definitely helped me extra with what I wanted to do. My friends were pretty good, too, in that they encouraged me to continue doing my best,” added Haley.

She also gave her best to another activity that may surprise some: Crocheting.

“I like crocheting. I actually entered a fashion design competition last year where I had crocheted a dress and won first place,” she said of what is now a thoroughly enjoyable hobby.

As for her career goals, the youngster is still undecided but she has a general idea of where she wants to go.

“I’m not a 100 per cent sure what I want to do but I am leaning more towards the sciences,” she said.

Her father, Albert Robinson, is not surprised by what she has done so far and knows she will continue to do well.

“When she was going to Corinaldi Avenue Primary, the teachers always spoke about her ability. Even when she passed for Montego Bay High, they were saying that it was no surprise. So when I see these grades, I feel good,” he told the Sunday Observer.

Haley Robinson is all smiles following her school’s prize-giving ceremony where she was the valedictorian.