Cousins score 23 ones

Alessandro Boyd, Gleaner Writer

Dane Campbell, science club adviser at The Manning's School in Westmoreland, says he was not surprised when he heard about the outstanding performances that came from cousins Jevon Henry and Rajiv Badaloo in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Collectively, these two 17-year-old cousins sat 30 examinations at The Manning's School and have obtained 23 ones between them.

Henry scored ones in mathematics, English language, English literature, information technology, social studies, principles of business, principles of accounts, office administration, technical drawing, human and social biology, and agricultural science, all in CSEC, and in CAPE, environmental science unit 1, and communication studies. Badaloo got ones in agricultural science, biology, English language, human and social biology, information technology, integrated science, mathematics, physical education and sport, physics, and social studies.

"They are very hard-working. If you notice, they are really doing more subjects than general, that's close to twice the regular number that is allowed normally," said Campbell. "They are usually in the lab, coming to me for help and solutions to problems. I think the majority of their success has to do with hard work and determination. I have to really congratulate them and I am very pleased to know that they have done so well."

Studying methods worked

Henry noted that he did not study a lot despite the impressive grades, as it was not the quantity of studying but the method used.

"I am not into too much studying, just smart studying and making connections between the subjects and minimising the amount of work I have to do in general. Once you have topics you can interrelate, then you can always bypass anything," Henry added.

Badaloo, however, did not feel satisfied with just eight subjects. He felt the desire to challenge himself.

"I am really grateful to my teachers, but my friends helped me a lot, like Jevon. He was the one that basically taught me geography and we would help each other out when it comes to the regular subjects because we don't get to do it in a regular day of school," said Badaloo. "I also helped him out with science subjects like physics and we both did agricultural science together."

He added: "As for my future, I plan to go to sixth form at The Manning's School and then apply for a scholarship at a university abroad. Later on, I want to become a rocket scientist because from I was small, I have always been interested in aeronautics. I have done all the science subjects."

Henry intends on studying banking and finance at the University of the West Indies western campus and is uncertain about his future but has decided to enter the field of finance and economics.

"The world operates on money. The bottom line on anything comes down to money, whether managing a country or a business, that is what everything comes down to so I might as well be there," Henry added.

alessandro.boyd@gleanerjm.com