Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

ST ANN'S BAY, St Ann:

AS LEANNA Garrick continues her struggles against illness, she is adamant that this will not prevent her from doing exceptionally well in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

The St Ann's Bay Primary School student still has the backing of her teacher Paul Campbell to do well.

"Yes, she is keeping up. In terms of her classwork, she has been doing well," Campbell told The Gleaner.

Campbell said students were in their final stages of preparation.

"In terms of her level of preparedness, I think she will get there by the time exam comes, the next three weeks from now. We are still reviewing, still fine-tuning. We have to try and get in much as possible. So things are on track."

The Gleaner spoke with Leanna in the school library where she will be spending some amount of time leading up to the exam.

"Since the last time we spoke, I fell ill again," she explained. She is still not fully recovered, but said she would be OK.

She was asked if her illness was affecting her studies.

"Sometimes, because I can't go one day without a lot of sleep. If I go to school, I sleep through the whole day."

So, are you confident you will still do well? She was asked.

"Yes," she replied.

For the next two weeks, Leanna will continue revising and preparing herself mentally for the GSAT. One aspect has to do with reading, she explained.

"I joined the library, I have books that I need to read, so I'll be reading the books. Reading, studying, eating and sleeping," she added with a chuckle.

rural@gleanerjm.com