Best of the West: Duo ace math at 14 years old

WESTERN BUREAU: Mathematics continues to be the stumbling block for many students across Jamaica, but for a number of eighth- and ninth-grade students in Montego Bay, St James, it's 'easy peasy Japanesy'.

Meet Chevaughn Linton of Herbert Morrison Technical High and Ducaran Bonnick of Cornwall College, who both struck grade ones in mathematics in the 2010 CSEC results.

They are all the protégés of Richard James, an unassuming teacher who honed his craft at Cornwall College and the University of the West Indies before establishing St James Tutorial at Hopewell Lane in Montego Bay. James has dedicated his time to improving the performance of students in mathematics.

Fourteen-year-old Chevaughn said he constantly received the highest grades in mathematics at primary school, so it was a seamless transition into high school.

"I have found it exciting. It was worthwhile experience at St James Tutorial. It is not like a regular class, it is very practical and interactive," he explained.

The aspiring doctor takes it easy when he's not studying, preferring to shoot hoops on the basketball court.

So what's the next challenge for the six-footer, who enters grade 10 this year?

"I will be doing advanced mathematics next year, and then I will take on the sciences."

Standing at 6' 3", the imposing figure of Ducaran Bonnick belies his 14 years. The former Albion Primary and Junior High student said he was motivated by his sister and mother to do the exam this year.

"My mother and sister thought that I should go ahead and give it a chance. It was a challenging exam. Didn't do a lot of study until two weeks before the exam," he confessed.

So after meeting that challenge head-on and coming out victorious, advanced mathematics and pure and applied mathematics are next in Ducaran's sights for 2011.

Ducaran is still to identify his career path, but it seems to be a toss-up of aviation technician, mechanical engineer or game designer.

Life for the teen has not been all books, as he finds time for football and rubgy and hopes to make it on his school's daCosta Cup football team.

barrington.flemming@gleanerjm.com