Ophelia Seaton - photo by Richard Morais

WESTERN BUREAU:

Little Ophelia Seaton of Trelawny might be a star scholar with big dreams but she still finds time to be involved in a wide range of school and church activities.

The Wilson's Run Primary student, who recently came up trumps in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), has developed quite a fan base, no admirer more passionate than the school's acting principal Esther Wishart.

"(She is) a born leader and motivator who will be greatly missed," was how Wishart described Ophelia, who will be attending Knox College in September.

Committed student

Another big supporter is her grade six teacher, Jeanette Hill, who praises the extrovert for being a committed student who also gets busy with extracurricular activities.

The adage, "To get something done well, give it to a busy person", is probably true of Ophelia.

And busy she is. The 12-year-old's activity roster includes The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee, reading and debate contests, and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission speech competition.

Lover of words

Her love affair with words seems likely to thrive after high school.

"I love to write, from stories to poems, and, therefore, journalism would be doing what I love," she said.

Singing is also one of her hobbies.

Ophelia, who recently relocated to Christiana, Manchester, had lived with her aunt in Wilson's Run after her grandmother migrated.

She was able to be the top pupil at her school with a 90-plus per cent average in the 2009 G AT.