Countless late nights of studying paid off for 16-year-old Zorg-en-Vlygt student Jessica Inniss, who tackled 23 subjects at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, emerging with 14 Grade Ones, eight Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
Jessica, of Zorg-en-Vlygt, Essequibo Coast, spoke to Ignite News about her results, describing them as the reward for hours of studying, sacrifice and moments of self-doubt, supported by the people who stood beside her throughout the process.
Jessica, the second of four children, is the daughter of teacher Beena Mangar Inniss, who teaches at C.V. Nunes Primary School, and carpenter Mark Inniss. She credited her parents and wider family with keeping her grounded and focused throughout her educational journey.
Preparing for 23 subjects, she said, was no easy task, recalling many long nights spent studying, completing assignments and revising while balancing the demands of school and other responsibilities. At times, the workload became overwhelming, leaving her to question whether she could accomplish the goals she had set.
Rather than allowing doubt to define her journey, the former Abram Zuil Secondary School student said she used it as motivation, reminding herself that giving up would take her further from the future she envisioned. Her drive, she noted, was fuelled by a desire to make her parents, family, teachers and church family proud, as well as to prove to herself that she was capable of achieving what she had set out to do.
That determination carried her through to results day. When the results were released, Jessica said she was overwhelmed with joy and deeply grateful, knowing the late nights and sacrifices had ultimately paid off.
Rather than viewing the results as an endpoint, she told Ignite News that the achievement has strengthened her determination to pursue her ambition of becoming a medical doctor.
Caring for people during difficult moments in their lives, helping to alleviate their pain and suffering, and contributing to improving the health and wellbeing of others have always been her passions, she said. Her next goal is to make that ambition a reality.
She credited her success at CSEC to her faith, saying God gave her the health, wisdom, strength and understanding needed to navigate her examinations. She also expressed gratitude to her parents for their sacrifices and encouragement, as well as to the teachers who guided her from Abram Zuil Nursery School through to Abram Zuil Secondary School.
Jessica singled out her lesson teachers — Afmat Ali, Parmanand Singh, Malcolm, Elaine, Amitabh Bisnauth, Carlson and Bholaram Mohan — for their additional guidance, along with Pastor Alvan Chester, Pastor Romeo Singh and her church family for their prayers and support. She also thanked her siblings, relatives, friends and classmates.
