–says top CSEC performer

MAINTAINING a positive mindset and discipline are critical when aiming to achieve a major goal. This is the belief of Simran Edmond, who attained 14-grade ones, six grade twos and one grade three at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination.

Simran is one of Queens College’s stop performers. She posited that a main contributing factor to this success is the willingness to put in the work, whether she liked the subject or not.
The elated teen said, “I feel so extremely relieved. I’m sure my fellow students who would’ve written CSEC this year also feel relieved. But relief would be an understatement to the number of emotions I felt when I was made aware of my results. I felt so happy and gratified that indeed, just as the cliché goes, hard work will pay off.”

Simran achieved grade one in subjects such as Mathematics, Agriculture Science, Principles of Accounts, and Biology, among others.
While she performed well, this young achiever noted that the subjects mentioned are ones she did not particularly like, however, it all boiled down to having the discipline to study. In the end, she enjoyed studying these subjects as the knowledge gained will be useful in any future endeavour she pursues.

School-Based Assessments (SBAs) were also a part of her journey. Simran stated that SBAs can be time consuming and required endless communication efforts with teachers and group members. This, she said, was one of her challenges as SBAs can take away studying and preparation time.

Simran was able to overcome this by being more coordinated with her group members and improving communication with her teachers to ensure the best grade possible. Although she was often overwhelmed during SBA preparation, with the help of her mother and teachers, she was able to overcome those difficulties.

The young woman shared that one of the best methods she used for CSEC preparation was having study partners. Together, they were able to work on past exam papers and explain concepts to each other.
“It was one of the best decisions I made, to have the study partners I did. Additionally, YouTube videos are a great help, and a positive mindset and discipline are integral. Family plays an important role in every aspect, mom helped me find the right balance as she ensured I took healthy breaks and time out from my studies.”

She added, “My family members were extremely supportive of my endeavours. My mother was there with me every step of the way, whether it was an SBA, or studying. She was my superhero during that time, giving up a lot of work and her duties, basically taking time off from her professional duties. My dad would’ve helped me prepare for my orals and exams even though he was tired from work. He always cracked his unfunny jokes, yet I would laugh my heart out. It was his way of calming me and helping me to stay positive.

“My younger sister Sanjana, who was my biggest cheerleader in this entire endeavour, cheered me on and made me smile through it all. Teachers such as Miss Williams, Miss Mohan, Sir Riaz, Miss Bhoj and Miss Lall among others guided and worked along with me.”

Maintaining a balance was very important to her during her preparation for CSEC. Creating a study timetable using the wisdom of her mother was key in helping her to ensure her time was being used efficiently for relaxation and studying.

With CSEC over, Simran intends to become an attorney, following the footsteps of her parents Joel and Geeta Edmond, along with taking part in her family’s business endeavours.

“Despite receiving these results, there is a lot more hard work still left to be done. This is just the first leg of the journey to endless possibilities. As mom would say, ‘the world is yours to conquer, the sky is the limit’. I plan to prepare for my AS and A levels and attend a university where I can study law and business.”

To sum it up, Simran advised, “Don’t procrastinate. Work past papers. Your syllabus is your best friend. Everything you need to study is on the syllabus. Work hard and be disciplined. Stay grounded, be humble, have faith, be dedicated, have a strong support group and you will persevere.”