Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams were a breeze for Matthew Aiken. But although he scored 15 grade one passes at both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) levels, the newly elected Calabar High School head boy is aching for more.

On his way to upper sixth form Aiken bagged two CSEC grade ones for Spanish and additional mathematics in fourth form.

In his grade 11 year he got nine more grade ones in mathematics, English language, English literature, French, economics, information technology, chemistry, biology, and physics. Additionally, he got a grade one in the CAPE pure mathematics unit 1 exam.

This year, Aiken sat more CAPE subjects to extend the streak, but in his estimation he fell short with three ones in chemistry, biology and physics, and a two in communication studies.

He also took a swing at unit 2 pure mathematics externally and scored a grade two.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Barbican, St Andrew, is “not quite satisfied”.

That much was evident as he recalled the moment he saw the grades on his mother’s phone in a barbershop.

“Upon checking the results of the four subjects I sat internally, the grade two immediately jumped out of the screen at me. It was shocking and disappointing for sure. I would have loved to believe that I was in the elite six per cent for communication studies,” he said.

“Pure math, which I sat externally, was next. That one hurt. I really didn’t feel good about that paper. I wasn’t making good time and ended up leaving over half the paper undone. I checked that grade timidly,” he told the Jamaica Observer, adding that the result wasn’t shocking, but “deeply saddening” to him.

“Math holds a special place in my heart and I’ve always been told that I’m somewhat prodigious in that field. That [grade] two just doesn’t feel right. I hope to take another crack at it and improve on that. I still have time, seeing that I sat CAPE Unit 1 in grade 11, and just sat Unit 2. Hopefully, I’ll get a grade to match my Unit 1 score next time around,” he said.

Aiken, though, said he was happy with the grades he received for chemistry, biology, and physics, as they were what he had expected.

“As I’m saying all this, I’m aware that some people may not understand my reaction, but many things in this life are a matter of subjectivity and each of us is different from the next. My family has always been proud of me and unconditionally supportive of me and my academic exploits, which I very much appreciate,” he told the Observer.

Noting that some of his peers are also disappointed with their grades, Aiken argued that acknowledging shortcomings and figuring out how to best improve is the best way forward.

“This must be done all while being secure in the fact that grades are more accurately a reflection of a performance in a given instance, rather than our ability, and are in no way, shape, or form final, fatal, or identity-defining, which is true of any great success or failure in life,” he said.

Aiken spent his early years in rural St Andrew with his grandmother, then relocated to Barbican with his parents, three younger sisters, and a younger brother.

He initially attended Rock Hall Basic School, after which he was enrolled at Morris Knibb Preparatory before moving to The Queen’s Preparatory School.

In his “quite limited spare time” he plays football, listens to music, and watches documentaries.

He acknowledged that being elected head boy added some amount of pressure as he awaited CAPE results.

“I am seen now, more than ever, as an ambassador of a whole institution and student body. In specific moments, one truly feels the weight of responsibility. I certainly don’t mind it, however. Nerves and pressure pale in comparison to the elation and sense of honour I felt at my appointment, and which I still feel right now,” he told the Observer.

Aiken captained Calabar’s team which placed second in the final of the 2022 Schools’ Challenge Quiz competition earlier this year. But even being a part of that and missing out on class time and some assignments was more manageable than adjusting to the restrictions put in place to reduce spread the novel coronavirus.

Those restrictions saw schools suspending face-to-face learning and switching to online classes.

“I can speak on the sciences, which form the core of my curriculum. Lab reports had to be done and checked primarily digitally. There was also less face-to-face time for intricate topics which usually require great detail and high student-teacher engagement. This is not the first year of the pandemic, of course, and issues such as these also plagued my year group in our previous academic year. We were essentially out of physical school for the entirety of our grade 11 year, a very critical one. It surely wasn’t easy,” he said.

Now that he’s in grade 13, Aiken said he hopes to reinforce self-discipline as he eyes his dream to practise medicine.

“It seems that, after much consideration, the final choice is medicine. In the end, my love for the sciences, in particular, biology, and my desire to be a consequential and meaningful instrument within society proved telling to my decision,” he said.

“I plan to achieve and maintain a high academic standard throughout the year; certainly better than last year. As the school’s head boy, I intend to give of myself for the betterment of the institution and to be an exemplary model for the entire student body. It’s also my last year competing in Schools’ Challenge Quiz and the whole team is working tirelessly to make this season a successful one.”