Latoy Wilson - photo by Claudia Gardner

WESTERN BUREAU:

Despite being affected by a fire that completely destroyed her house during the start of the 2008-09 school year, Latoy Wilson of Chester Castle, Hanover, overcame the odds and notched one of the highest grades in this year's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

The Anchovy Primary student won the Horlicks Scholarship for the Ministry of Education's Region Four.

Latoy, who will be attending the Montego Bay High School for Girls in September, scored 96 in mathematics, 91 in science, 93 in language arts, 93 in social studies and 10 out of 12 in communication task with an overall average of 91.

"Before I came to grade six, I used to look in my sister's Grade Six Achievement Test books to see what the work would be like in grade six. Whenever she was doing her homework, I was always around her doing what little I could do," she said.

"In grade six, I went to Saturday classes, and my teacher, Mrs Sharon Williams, would make the sacrifice to be here on Saturdays, even when she had things to do. I also attended evening classes.

"My mom always ensured I went to Saturday classes. I had all the equipment like books and pencils, even though our house had burnt down," she said.

Latoy's hobbies include reading, dancing and singing. She is also a competent netball player and represents her school at the Institute of Sports netball competition for girls.

She has some sound advice for grade five students at her school and other primary schools across the island.

"When you come into grade six, you work really hard because GSAT is not a bed of roses and it is not a walkover," she told The Gleaner.

"Some students who are 11 years old while in grade six waste the first year. Don't waste the first year. They should try to do and learn as much as they can, so that when they are going to do the examination, it will just be revision for them," advised Latoy.

claudia.gardner@gleanerjm.com