Success through the help of God

Seventeen-year-old Mortilaine Riley, of Jonathan Grant High School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, gained eight distinctions and two credits in this year's Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. The subjects for which she obtained grade ones are English language, English literature, social studies, religious education, information technology, principles of accounts, principles of business and office procedure. She gained a grade two pass in mathematics and biology.

Mortilaine told The Gleaner she believes her success came through the help of God Almighty and the support given by her parents and teachers. She also said she maintained a strict programme of study.

"I make sure to draw up a time table and I normally get to bed at around eight o'clock," she stated.

"I am usually awake around 3 a.m. and I would study until about six o'clock when it was time to start getting ready for school."

She spoke glowingly of the assistance she received from her parents, Solomon and Audrey Riley, who are ministers of the gospel.

Her teachers and friends were another source of great motivation for her.

"My teachers are the best in the world," she stated emphatically. "People like Devon Wilson, my Math teacher, (who) was very supportive and pushed me to do my best in an area which clearly was not my favourite."

She along with schoolmates and best friends, Orene Plummer and Donnette Duggan are currently attending sixth form at St. Jago High School, in Spanish Town, as her former school does not have a sixth-form programme.