By Kwesi Isles
Seventeen-year-old Treasure James may just be the best performing hinterland scholar this year with five distinctions among eight grade ones and a two at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

It would be understandably easy to use the phrase ‘name and nature’ to describe the young woman, a product of President’s College (PC) and an aspiring forensic pathologist.

The scholar, who hails from Kumaka, Region One, attended PC on a hinterland scholarship which she secured after writing the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination at the Mabaruma Primary School. This year, the CSEC exam was the stage upon which she shone.

“When I found out my results I screamed. God is amazing; that’s the first thing I said and I cried, because I didn’t know what to do. I was overjoyed,” Treasure said.

She added that she credited God foremost, supportive parents and late nights of hard work for her success which she dubbed a miracle.

“It wasn’t something I expected but I prayed a lot and then there were nights when I wasn’t getting anywhere and I prayed and prayed and what I studied was exactly what came (in the exams), Treasure stated.

Treasure, who stays with an aunt in the city in order to go to school, said she had been holidaying in the North West when she got a call from a teacher to come out for her results.

Her next move is to pursue the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) at Queen’s College from September. She said she chose to go to Queen’s because she believed it had a better sixth form programme. And though she has not received a response to her application, she is confident she will be accepted.

“I’m going to do Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Communication Studies. I want to be a forensic pathologist,” she stated. On completion of CAPE she plans to pursue studies at the University of Maryland.

Questioned about her career choice Treasure said she was hugely influenced by the popular crime scene shows on television.

“I’ve always liked looking at Cold Case and Forensic Files and all the TruTV science series growing up. And I’m too soft-hearted to be a physician.

Lives will be in my hand and if I lose them I’ll be disappointed and depressed, but being a forensic pathologist I will work with science to help provide justice for people,” she stated.

However, it would be a mistake to write off Treasure as just another ‘brainiac’ as she revealed that along with her scholastic achievements she has tallied some successes outside the classroom.

“I was very much involved in sports going to school. I did high jump and sprints.  I swam but I wasn’t too much into it. I wasn’t a big swimmer; I was just good at inter-house. I’ve been champion athlete and I went to Nationals two years,” she said with a grin.

When Stabroek News caught up with her yesterday she was on her way to church for choir practice.

“It’s my first day. I wasn’t really into it but they asked me last night and so I’ll go and see how it works out. I can’t sing but since they asked me I couldn’t say no,” Treasure said.

She related that she was very much into church and believed that nothing could be achieved without it.

“You just have to put your effort and he will take over from there. I did my part and I’m sure he did his part.”

Sparing some words of advice for other youths she urged them to concentrate on working hard now or it could be to their detriment later in life.

“Anyone I talk to I tell them to be focused, know what you want and get your priorities right.

Don’t let anyone distract you, if friends really love you they will respect that you have school work and let you do what you have to do. It takes hard work to get success and you should pray and trust in God.”

Treasure has two sisters, an older one in the North West and a younger one about to enter second form at PC, also on scholarship.