By Petulia Clarke, Staff ReporterWHEN 10-YEAR-OLD Sean Ashley heard that he had been named top boy in the Scotiabank Jamaica foundation Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarships, he took the news with "calm surprise".
Sean, a student at Vaz Preparatory in Kingston, said that he had been working towards a scholarship since the fourth grade, and had expected to do well since he had maintained an A to A-plus average.
Thus the news, when announced, didn't shock him and he was extremely happy that he had got through to his first choice, Campion College as "everybody says it's a great school".
"My teacher broke it to me but I couldn't believe it so I had to confirm it before I got exited," he said. "I was called to the principal's office and I thought I was in trouble, especially when I saw my father there, but then they told me again and I just smiled."
STUDY TECHNIQUE
He said that he had no specific study technique for GSAT, but followed his mother's direction as she had committed the entire year to training him.
"My parents worked very hard for this," he said.
Added to that was his own desire to succeed matched by the determination of his teacher Prudence Dyer, who has the utmost confidence in him.
"He's very intelligent, speaks well and his writing is way above average," Miss Dyer said. "He's an excellent writer and orator and I'd have been very disappointed if he didn't get a scholarship."
She said that Sean is an avid reader who asks a lot of questions, and is a very confident person.
PARENTS
Sean's mother, also a Vaz Prep past student, was a Government scholar and Spelling Bee champion. His father has a PhD. His parents are attorneys-at-law Daille and Dr. Paul Ashley.
Sean, an only child, said that his favourite subject is science. In his spare time he plays computer games and swims recreationally.
"Now that exams are over and the results are out I'll just relax and take it easy," he said.
He also plans to attend Campion's summer camp.
Top girl Sharlayne Waller attends Sts. Peter and Paul Prep and will also be enrolled
at Campion College come September. She is currently off the island.
