SHARING the top position at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) are two students of Queen’s College – Michael Bhopaul and Leonardo Gobin, who both secured grade one passes in eight units.

The subjects Bhopaul secured maximum passes in are Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics Unit One; Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, French, Pure Mathematics and Physics Unit Two.

While Gobin secured maximum passes in Communication Studies and Integrated Mathematics Unit One, Applied Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Pure Mathematics and Physics Unit Two.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Gobin stated that while he is excited about his achievement, he has been humbled by it as well.

Gobin, who grew up in the community of Good Intent on the West Bank of Demerara, said that he applied to do Medicine at the University of Guyana, however, now that he has been listed amongst the top performances, he is hoping to obtain one of the government scholarships that are usually given to top students, to pursue medical studies overseas.
He is also encouraging students who will be pursuing CAPE in the future to set their priorities straight.

He pointed out, “Know what you want. You should set your goals and focus on them and you will achieve them. Pray each day, pray multiple times a day and God will help you, he will give you the strength that you need.”

“Right now I am feeling so joyous because God has done a good work in my life, I am extremely elated,” expressed Diego Barnett, also of Queen’s College, who copped the second position in the country at CAPE with grade one passes in seven units and grade two passes in two units.

Barnett who grew up in the Agricola community on the East Bank of Demerara added, “When I heard my name called amongst the top students I was so excited and enthusiastic, I ran and jumped and shouted.”

Barnett noted that he will be applying to the University of Toronto and the Miguel Hernández University to pursue studies in Cardiology, however, in the meanwhile, he will be teaching at Queens College.

At seventh position is Jeevan Dalip, who is also a student of Queen’s College and has secured grade one passes in six units and one grade three. Dalip told this newspaper that although he put a lot of work into preparing for CAPE, he did not expect to be among the top performers.

“I was confident that I was going to do well because I know how much I have been working, but I didn’t expect it to be this extra special. I’m grateful for everything,” he expressed.

He noted that preparation for the examination was challenging and required him to attend extra classes outside of school, dedicate time to completing School Based Assessments, while having to find time for revision and studies, “but I found a way to manage all of it.”
Currently, Dalip of Turkeyen is hoping to commence studies in the field of Biology at a university outside of Guyana.

The 18-year-old is urging students to “remain level-headed and have a goal that you set for yourself because without that goal it is very easy to get down on yourself and to lose a sense of direction amongst all the work. Have a set goal and work to that as much as possible.”

Copping the 13th position in the country is Nial Beaton, a student of the St. Stanislaus College who secured grade one passes in six units.

Beaton told the Guyana Chronicle that the accomplishment means a lot to him and he deserved his achievement, since he has worked extremely hard after failing to do well in one of his units in his first year of CAPE.

“I tried to better myself in all areas, try to strengthen my strengths and work on my weaknesses and never give up even though it seemed really hard at the time,” he expressed.

Beaton added, “Just to know that I was once in a situation where I started to doubt my ability because of one bad grade, but just know that anybody could do well, you just got to believe in yourself, don’t ever give up. No matter how many people tell you that you are not going to do as well as you want to do, you just keep trying. Don’t ever let the work get to you, find a way to relax.”

The young man is currently in the United States of America, where he will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at the Georgia State University on a full scholarship presented to him by the university.

Other names amongst the top performances at this year’s CAPE are Zane Ramotar, Farah Chin, Narinda Persaud, Jelena Arjune, Fidel Da Silva, Amisha Mohanlall, Christian Pile, Pretha Smith, Jamal Thomas and Johanan Clarke.

In May/June, 880 candidates from 10 Secondary Schools and five private centres wrote CAPE in Guyana.

The 15 centres were Mackenzie High, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, Berbice High, New Amsterdam Secondary, Guyana Private, President’s College, Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Bishops’ High, Queen’s College, St. Joseph High, St. Stanislaus College, Marian Academy, St. Rose’s High, Adult Education Association and Chase’s Academy.