Tivoli twins excel at Kingston Technical
Perhaps funding the secondary education of twins is twice the financial burden, but when they are the subjects of much praise and applause at graduations like 16 year olds Gabrielle and Gregory Jr Davis, it is also double the pride, reward and contentment for their parents.
Gabrielle and Gregory Jr, who both live in Tivoli Gardens, west Kingston, graduated from Kingston Technical High School last Wednesday.
Gabrielle, prefect and member of the dance troupe, swept awards for consistent performance in physics, Spanish and renewable energy at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) level; and her brother walked away with awards for consistent performance in Spanish and renewable energy at the CSEC level.
“As a proud resident of Tivoli Gardens, I am blessed and grateful to be able to finish high school and receiving awards. I’m very proud of my brother and myself for our accomplishments and being awarded for our hard work,” Gabrielle told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.
Gabrielle highlighted the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying preparing for CSEC exams during that period presented both advantages and disadvantages.
She said the advantages include the fact that it availed her flexibility, reduced transportation expenses and enhanced her time management skills.
The disadvantages, she contrasted, included connectivity issues and discomfort.
These are things that made graduation day even more pleasant.
“For me, knowing that my parents were present at the graduation, I’m very thankful and grateful for their support and I know that they are very proud,” the Gabrielle continued.
She said in the next 10 years, she sees herself being a pilot in the engineering field and giving back to her community.
Gregory Jr, president of the Kingston Technical Science Club, was also beaming with joy. He also received certificates of merit for technical drawing and information technology, along with certificates of appreciation for participation in five clubs.
“Graduating was truly an honour because as a young man from Tivoli Gardens, finishing high school only happens once in a blue moon, and being there with my twin sister feels like a blessing from God,” he told the Sunday Observer, adding that 10 years from now, he sees himself being the CEO of a “big electrical and renewable energy firm”.
“Seeing my parents there watching my name being called, I know they truly felt blessed. My experience in high school was the best; it was a perfect definition of what we call life. It was both a mixture of sorrow and joy. In short, amazing. I loved my teachers — I always respected them and obeyed them,” he said.
“Preparing for exams in COVID was hard, but I managed to survive.”
Their mother, Nickeisha Brown, told the Sunday Observer that their graduation was a proud moment for her.
“Thanks be to God, I was able to be in attendance to witness my twin children receive their awards in trophies and certificates of merit. Gregory Jr and Gabrielle were always trying to do their best, because only their best is good enough and it doesn’t matter what might try to stop them; they both would work hard to come out on top or in the top five.”
Brown said online classes were a strain because they had no Internet connection.
She said that elder Gregory, the children’s father, had to be purchasing multiple phone cards in order for their children to be able to access the daily online classes.
“In the early stages, they were without a laptop or tablet but God did it. They had to put pressure on two phones that were not in top standard to get the notes and to be able to attend classes. My children bring joy to my face… they are a blessing.”
Meanwhile, Gabrielle said graduation day was a mixture of nervousness, excitement and a bit of sadness.
“Knowing that I am going to miss past classmates, schoolmates and friends, and also happy to see all the trophies and awards knowing I would possibly be getting some,” she shared.
“Being able to attend a technical high school and to also be able to choose a male dominating field as a vocation, my high school experience was engaging, eye-opening, fun, interactive, inspiring and sometimes confusing and even difficult.”
She said doing practicals for classes, going on field and educational trips, entering competitions, having social activities at school, sports day and even devotion were some of her best experiences throughout high school.
“I participated in ISCF (Inter-School Christian Fellowship), Interact Club, Science Club and Spanish Club. I was a part of the prefect body and also was a part of the dance troupe because they were exciting, engaging, and educational,” she said, noting that she plans to continue to sixth form and then further her studies at the territory level.
“My dream careers are piloting and electrical engineering from I was little. Also, since I started doing electrical at school as a vocation, I became fascinated with the subject.”
Gregory Jr, on the other hand, said two of his best experiences in high school were winning the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s jingle competition and being elected president of the school’s Science Club.
“I also participated in the ISCF, Spanish, Robotics, Chess, Interact, and Science Club. Most of the times I participated in these clubs because my sister had dancing in the afternoons so I make use of my time,” he revealed.
“Now that I’ve finished high school, I’m planning to go to the University of Technology (UTech) and pursue electrical engineering in the diploma programme. Hopefully, I get accepted.”
Gregory Jr’s dream career is electrical engineering, “Because I love this work field and I would like to become the back bone of this economy.”
Both Gabrielle and Gregory Jr were asked to finish the sentence: “I could not have finished high school without…”
Gabrielle said, “I could not have finished high school without firstly God, my parents and my teachers.”
Gregory Jr responded, “I could not have finished high school without God and my parents Nickeisha and Gregory.”
Further, Brown said the twins have always been completely different in terms of academics.
They often battle in school, with Gabrielle invariably coming out on top.
“For example, she would place first and he, second. This has been going on from St Joseph Infant when they were in the same class, and even after they were split in different classes over by St Aloysius Primary and then at Kingston Technical High School. When they had to select their career path, they both transitioned in the same field to pursue electrical engineering,” she said.
“However, Gregory Jr aka G Force is a better speaker, and Gabrielle aka Gabby is on the quiet side. They are uniquely different in person. My children both have a strong bond together; you’ll never see one and don’t see the other,” she continued.
In line with their aspirations, Brown told the Sunday Observer, “They will be heading straight to sixth form to continue the journey and then transition and further their studies in one of Jamaica’s colleges — most likely the UTech because of their fields of study.”