Sixteen-year-old Daniel Thomas, the outstanding achiever who will be attending 6th form at Ardenne High School starting Friday, plays the piano at his home in Kingston yesterday. -Norman Grindley photo
Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
IMAGINE HAVING the top performing boy in the 1999 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), the 2001 Gleaner Children's Own National Spelling Bee Champion, a finalist in the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee Competition and a holder of 10 distinctions at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) level all in the same room. Better yet, imagine one person who has accomplished all of this. Unlikely? Well, meet young Daniel Thomas, a 16-year-old wonder kid who believes nothing is impossible.
So would it then be excusable if one were to see a little brashness, maybe even a little arrogance from the youngster? No, not Daniel. Even with the world seemingly at his feet, he still remains humble enough to shrug off any mention of him being special.
"Anybody could have done it. You just need to tell yourself that you can," he said when The Gleaner visited his home yesterday.
DREAMS OF PURSUING MEDICINE
Daniel will be starting 6th form at Ardenne High School on Friday, where he will be studying chemistry, biology, mathematics and Spanish. The young achiever with dreams of pursuing medicine, explained his subject choices.
"I am thinking of becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon, one who travels all around the world, hence the need to learn different languages," he said with an ever present smile on his face.
The debonair youngster, who enjoys swimming and playing badminton, admitted to being a compulsive procrastinator and said he thought that people would be surprised to learn that he really studies very rarely.
"When exams come around, then I get into it. The truth is that even though my mother tries to get me to do so, I don't usually study on a daily basis. I don't even have a study routine," he said.
Daniel loves gospel and classical music, and thanks to the weekly lessons that he takes, he is able to play his own renditions on the grand piano in his living room. When not doing this, he enjoys being in the company of his most prized possession, his friends. Daniel said he cherishes his friends and hates being alone.
Unlike many other young achievers, this devout Christian has no set philosophy, but often reflects on the words of his one-time spelling coach, Reverend Glen Archer.
"He would always tell me that my attitude will determine my altitude and that I should put God first in all that I do. Whenever he sees me at school, he stops to give me a word of encouragement," Daniel said.
Giving all the credit for his achievements to his friends, church and family members who he says are always there for him, Daniel intends to succeed in his future endeavours because, as he said, "God has truly blessed me."