Naresh Jagnanan of Belle Plaine, Wakenaam, Region Three and student of Queen’s College was on Thursday listed as the student with the highest grade at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) examinations.
He secured nine Grade Ones and one Grade Two at the examination. The preliminary results were delivered before a packed audience at the Anna Regina Secondary School by Minister of Education Priya Manickhand.
Eighteen-year-old Jagnanan has a passion for accounting and took several courses at Cacique Accounting College in Kitty, Georgetown, after completing his CSEC exams. He was a highflier for Wakenaam when he wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. He scored 11 Grade Ones and topped the Caribbean in Business.
Today, Jagnanan, who was awarded a CXC/UWI scholarship, will be heading to Trinidad to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics. This scholarship is awarded to top performing CSEC students every year and since he had topped the Caribbean in Business, he earned himself a spot to study at UWI. In setting the foundation for his studies he opted to do CAPE at Queen’s College.
Moving
In pursuing his dreams, he had to adapt and move to George-town, and this relocation was one of his major challenges since he was accustomed to the typical countryside. Speaking on this he noted that a tranquil location was replaced with a fast-paced environment.
“Environment wasn’t all I had to adapt to at the new school. It was difficult. But this wasn’t just any school, it was the top school where expectations will inevitably be placed on you to perform well after copping the business award. Everyone was looking up to the new student so I had to set an example and perform well”, he told the Sunday Stabroek.
He added that Queen’s College provided most of the study materials that he needed for his personal and professional growth.
Financial struggles
Jagnanan’s father is a security guard and his mother is a housewife. His parent’s earnings were not enough to support his studies so he took on an online part-time job for a few months to raise enough money to facilitate extra lessons for his studies.
“Financial endowment is something that I likewise struggled with, at the time of planning to write 10 units, I knew I had to take extra lessons for almost all… I couldn’t do this all by myself and I needed the support of others in addition to my teachers. But the lessons were likewise costly so instead of burdening my parents, I decided to get myself a part-time job.”
The teen said it was challenging because he had to attend school every day and also find time to work and complete his assignments. He admitted that sometimes he would feel tired at the end of the day but he constantly reminded himself of the achievements that were ahead. He added that he constantly called on the Almighty to guide him throughout it all.
His parents, Runita Khelawan and Bhawani Jagnanan, said they are very proud of their child’s achievement and stated that he is a child who never gives up.
