Sutanya Ferguson excels in GSAT

Barrington Flemming, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

The adage: "The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight ..." seems to ring true for 12-year-old Albion Primary and Junior High School student Sutanya Ferguson.

Sutanya, who worked hard and burnt the midnight oil, earned an average of 95 per cent in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), and emerged at the top of all students at her school, gaining a place at the school of her choice, the Montego Bay High School for Girls.

Sutanya said preparing for the GSAT was really difficult and took a lot of preparation and sacrifice.

"It was very hard, but I feel great because I have done my best and have achieved one of my goals in life. Sometimes when I had to study, I really wanted to go to sleep, but I knew I had a goal in mind, so I battled the sleep and worked late in the night to ensure that I was ready," she told Western Focus.

"I had to do extra lessons and give up watching TV; I had to give up the computer, and drawing and talking to friends, and of course reduce the text messages which were sent."

For Sutanya, social studies was always a challenge and it was the single subject which really put her to the test. However, she managed to score 94 in that exam, as well as 97 in mathematics, 97 in language arts, 95 in science, and 11 from 12 for communication task.

"Social studies has always been a difficult subject for me. It is my least favourite subject. However, I did well enough to score 94 per cent in the exam. I must acknowledge my teachers, Mrs Velma Cohen (vice-principal) and Ms Shelly-Ann Harvey, who have been very supportive and very efficient," Sutanya said.