Topping PEP the icing on the cake for Shannon-Elise

Unlike the average preteen girl, Shannon-Elise Barrett, Jamaica’s top-performing girl in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), did not get the opportunity to bond with and grow up in the loving care of her mother.

She only knows her mom through images and stories shared by her father, Lawrence Barrett, and through the recollections of other relatives and close friends.

Her mother, Simone Earle-Barrett, died from complications with sickle cell disease nine days after giving birth to Shannon-Elise.

Hence, the young girl said it is her village that raised her, assisting with her schoolwork and assignments and fuelling her to become a top academic performer.

“My father and my cousin would always help me with my homework. I would always go to them for help, and my aunts, they would help me out with projects, [and] I’m very grateful that I have them,” Shannon-Elise, who attended Kensington Primary School in St Catherine and has been placed at Campion College, told The Gleaner in an interview on Wednesday.

“I knew that I did well, [but] I wasn’t expecting to be the top girl. I felt like people would have done better than me because I feel like it can’t just be me alone,” she said.

Shannon-Elise said that she did not have to implement a rigorous study regimen to prepare for the tests as she can easily memorise what is taught to her in classes.

“Once I understand [a concept], I don’t really need to study hard … and I read over. I don’t really need to go in depth with studying,” she said.

Her cousin, Petra Phillips, believes Shannon-Elise got her brilliance from her parents, noting that her mother studied zoology and had a doctorate from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

“She is a naturally gifted and bright person. Her mother was very smart and bright ... and her father is also very brilliant,” she said.

High standard

For his part, Lawrence is happy that the fruit of their labour has now been realised.

“I’m excited. Everybody is happy that she performed as well as she did. Over the years, she had done well in school – from kindergarten through infant school, through now to the primary school,” Lawrence told The Gleaner.

“She has always performed at a very high standard throughout her short life on Earth so far, so it was not surprising that she has done so well, but it was surprising that she would have been top of the entire PEP [girls cohort],” he said.

“Everybody who would have contributed, who would have helped and supported her over the years, would have been excited,” Lawrence added. “Though a single parent, it would not be reasonable for me to take all the credit. Because of what happened, there was overwhelming support from her immediate relatives, her immediate family, and close friends, so I have received over the 12 years a tremendous amount of help from all of those who know her and are close to her … . Topping the whole PEP was the icing on the cake,” he said.

Shannon-Elise is elated that she has been placed at her school of choice, Campion College.

Although she admitted to being a bit nervous, she told The Gleaner that she is looking forward to the new environment and meeting new people.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com