After hard work comes the reward
— Reg. 2 CSEC Top Performers continue to make Essequibo proud
DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 19, 2019
For Charrandat Naraine and Begum Baksh, two Anna Regina Secondary (Multilateral) School students (popularly referred to as ‘ARMS’), all of the hard work has paid off in full.
Attaining 18 Grade Ones and 1 Grade Two, Naraine said he was ‘relieved and thankful’ when he learnt of his performance. For Baksh, it was no easy road but it was worth every sacrifice made.
The pair are among Region Two’s top students and top national performers at this year’s CSEC examinations.
16-year-old Naraine who aspires to become a Neurologist will take an academic gap year this upcoming year, he will begin his tertiary education at the University of Guyana (UG).
Guided in part by his older brother who is reading for his degree in Medical Technology, at the University of Guyana, Naraine said that his interest in neurology blossomed from an interest in the spinal cord and nerves. “[I am] intrigued with the brain, I’m fascinated with how these things work and I would like to delve further into investigating diseases that affect these,” Naraine explained.
He indicated that while he expected to perform well, placing third in the country overall came as surprise. “I was expecting to do well in school but not at this level,” he added.
Initially Naraine was uncertain of his career path and wrote 19 subjects to have a wide range of options.
His advice to future CSEC students is to “Be humble, stay dedicated, set your goals and work towards achieving it. Manage your time and the SBA’s, finish your SBA’s as early as possible and start the studies early.”
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Begum Somyah Baksh who sat 17 subjects, and achieved 13 Grade Ones and 4 Grade Twos said she was very grateful for everyone who sacrificed to make her success possible. “I was euphoric at my performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate Examinations 2019,” she said.
Thanking God for playing such an integral role in her success, she also cited other sources of strength and support including her family, particularly her mother and her grandparents.
“I would like to extend a special thank you to my family for always believing in me even when I doubted myself. I would also like to thank all of my teachers who assisted me along the way, for all of their strenuous work, all of their time and dedication that they have devoted towards me and all the other students of the Anna Regina Secondary School,” Baksh said.
She attributed a lot of her strength to her sister, Begum Shafrana Baksh who topped Anna Regina Secondary last year at the CSEC exams; describing her as the person “who has always stood by me through thick and thin. She also assisted me and encouraged me along the way.”
Baksh shared what she referred to as ‘gems of knowledge’ she picked up along the way for upcoming CSEC students. “Procrastination is not your friend. You are still a work in progress so don’t expect to get everything right at once and complete all SBA’s as soon as possible because that will guarantee you more time for revision.”