- Contributed
Jermaine Stephen

Leethan Grandison, Outlook Youth Writer

Imagine having your future determined for you all because of the school that you attend. Many of our non-traditional high school students are pressured in this way by persons in our society who believe that success cannot come from any of these schools.

However, an increasing number of our non-traditional high school students have been proving them wrong. Their performance, especially in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), is testimony to that. Jermaine Stephen, 17-year-old past student of Oberlin High School, is among that group.

Stephen, who sat eight subjects at the 2006 CSEC level, gained six passes at grade one, a grade two pass and a grade three pass, adding to two grade one passes he had gained while in fourth form.

Attitude of greed

In an interview with Outlook Youth Jermaine said that he went into the exam with an attitude of greed - that is, taking all the subjects at grade one. He gained ones in English language, history, biology, agriculture (single-award), principles of accounts, principles of business, two in English literature and three in mathematics. These are in addition to information technology at the technical level and social studies at the general proficiency that he had done in fourth form.

According to the youngster, his success is attributed to his ability to prioritise, keep focused, and to make sacrifices as well as proper time management. He also added that in the middle of it God was with him, as without Him he would not have done it.

He urged his peers who may endure the same sort of stereotype to "take all forms of negative comments and turn them in motivation" and 'bounce back'. For those who will be taking external exams this academic year he advised them not to take it as fluke, study hard and make sure they get their school base assessments done.

He is now in sixth form at Ardenne High School, doing economics, computer science, accounting and communication studies as part of his hopes of becoming an accountant or an entrepreneur.