By Michel Outridge

KELLY HYLES, the 17-year-old Guyanese girl who has been accepted into 21 colleges across the United States of America, including eight Ivy League universities has returned to her homeland, which is celebrating 50 years as an Independent nation.During her visit, she will be visiting her childhood school Vryheid’s Lust Primary, East Coast Demerara, the village she was raised.

At a press conference hosted by social activist Mark Benschop in the conference room of Metro Office and Computer Supplies on Quamina Street, a smiling Hyles told reporters that she lived in Guyana for 11 years before migrating to the US with her mother.

The young lady credited her educational achievements to the foundation she received during schooling here.

She related that the Mathematics was not very different compared to the US, but it was not the same for subjects such as History and English Language.

Hyles, however adapted to the change and has since come a long way with the support of her mother Anetta Sealey.

Though an outstanding student, Hyles is a very simple young lady. She looks forward to celebrating her 18th birthday in Guyana on May 26.

On Monday she visited President David Granger and was invited to attend the Jubilee celebrations.

Vryheid’s Lust, the village she grew up in is looking to honour her by establishing a Kelly Hyles Scholarship Fund.

She noted that money is essential for higher studies and her journey to academic success was not an easy one.

“It was not a smooth road but still keep going,” she said.

Her mother Anetta Sealey said she is very proud of her daughter and is still reeling from shock at her daughter’s outstanding achievements.

Benschop told the press conference on Monday that he has since made a recommendation that Hyles be awarded the key to the City or something in recognition of her academic achievements.

The teenager’s visit to Guyana is being facilitated by the Mark Benschop Foundation (MBK) in collaboration with Fly Jamaica Airlines. The airline provided the tickets for Hyles and her mother to visit Guyana after learning of her academic success.

She is also expected to visit schools in Georgetown, Linden and Berbice to share her inspirational story with students there.

Hyles, who has a keen interest in neuroscience, having scored a remarkable 99.63 Grade Point Average in high school.

She is a volunteer at Mt Sinai Hospital and tutors students at her former Brooklyn middle school.

Although she was accepted to Harvard, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Yale Universities, and a number of other Ivy League Schools, the teen has chosen to be a member of Harvard’s Class of 2020.