Young Tufton brings his 'A' game

Senator's son scores eight ones in CSEC exams

Staying on his 'A' game and remaining well rounded helped Wolmer's Boys' High School student Charles Tufton to receive eight ones in his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The 16-year-old received ones in chemistry, biology, physics, English language, social studies, principles of business, principles of accounts and mathematics.

"I just worked on my weak areas. If I knew I was weak in a certain area, I would spend a little extra time on it or I would go to my parents and ask them to get extra assistance for me in those subject areas. I would just put in extra all the time and try to be on my 'A' game for the ones I knew I was particularly weak in," said the sports fanatic.

Hard work and discipline

Knowing that he reaped the benefits of his hard work and discipline made him elated.

"My initial reaction was that I was very happy knowing that I've been working really hard over the last two years and especially the last six months. It was very hard. I had to make a lot of sacrifices and just getting those results made me really overjoyed," added Charles.

Although he did well, Charles has not planned out his career path.

"I'm not really sure. I like medicine. I'm thinking about medicine very strongly, but I also might venture into the business world as well, seeing as I have both principles of accounts and business and then the three sciences. I'm not really sure yet but somewhere within that region ... I would like to keep my options open, basically,' said Charles.

Parents proud

His parents received the news of his success extremely well and see their son's achievements as a manifestation of their success.

"I'm very proud obviously, like any parent would be. Despite all that you think you have in life or have achieved in life, one of your best feelings ever is to see your children do well and even better than you did," said his father, Senator Christopher Tufton.

"So, to me, that is a great motivator, and to see the results manifesting themselves in terms of sports or academics, it really gives you the encouragement to continue to work with them and encourage them."

Senator Tufton believes his son's pursuit of non-academic interests contributed to his excellent performance on the exam.

"My own philosophy is that children should be encouraged to be as rounded as possible. So, indirectly, his mother and myself encouraged him in the non-academic pursuits, which at times have been difficult, but I think, taught him to discipline himself. When he comes home late from cricket practice, you feel a little sorry for him, but he kept focused," he said.

- Lauren Williams