Romario White, top performing boy in the island, with his teacher, Joan Burke. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

When Romario White of Duhaney Park Primary School, St. Andrew, found out that he copped the Scotiabank award for the top-performing boy in the island in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), he was estactic.

"I felt overwhelmed. I jumped up and down," Romario said of his reaction when his mother broke the news to him last week.

He attributes his success to his teacher and principal who he said encouraged him and provided him with the necessary skills that he needed for the examination.

"I also studied hard, but I didn't study the night before the exam because I needed to calm my mind before I went in," he said.

The second of three children for Jennifer and Maurice White, Romario, who is the head boy for his school, says his parents also instilled positive values in him.

A member of his school choir and cricket team, Romario who will be attending Campion College, enjoys watching television and playing cricket and the piano when he is not studying.

Inspired by his cousins who are medical doctors, the 11-year-old says he hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

"I wasn't surprised because he has been performing well since grade one," Mr. White told The Gleaner yesterday.

"But I really feel excited that he is the top boy in the island," he added.

Joan Burke, Romario's teacher, told The Gleaner that she was not surprised by Romario's achievements. "Because I knew he had the ability."

She describes her student as "really smart, conscientious in whatever he does and really disciplined."

Romario scored 99 for mathematics, language arts 99, social studies 99, science 96 and 12 out of 12 for communication task.

- P.F.