Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall (right) presents the Governor General's Achievement Award to Cindy Haynes as Custos of Kingston Weeville Gordon looks on at an awards ceremony held at the Jamaica Crest Resort in Fairy Hill, Portland recently. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

Growing up in the violence-plagued community of Parade Gardens, Kingston (Tel Aviv) was never easy for Cindy Haynes, who on a few occasions had to stay away from school.

This, however, did not deter the 20-year-old youth recipient of the Governor General's Achievement Award for Surrey from achieving academic excellence.

Currently a student at the University of the West Indies, Mona, pursuing a bachelors degree in psychology and business administration, Haynes has ambitions of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Within this field, Haynes said she would be able to offer counselling, an area of psychology which the Excelsior high school graduate is fond of.

At high school, Haynes was deputy head girl an active member of the peer counselling body and the Girl Guides.

While attending sixth form at St George's College, she made the Dean's list and received several awards for hard work and deportment.

Haynes plays an active role in her community, conducting a remedial class for children ages three to nine years old. She is also an assistant teacher for another remedial programme in the community, stimulating young minds to become leaders, which caters to 50 students between the ages of nine and 16.