A journey well worth
From May Pen to Campion for seven years; now
IT was a long journey. Literally. Zantaye Annaleise Thomas, 19, had to travel from May Pen, Clarendon, to Campion College in St Andrew for seven years.
She had to wake up as early as 3:00 am to leave for school every morning; sometimes catching up on sleep on the ride into the Corporate Area. And heading back after school, she wouldn’t return home until the sun had gone down.
But along the journey she picked up some wins — deputy head girl and nine Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) grade ones across mathematics, additional mathematics, English language, English literature, French, Spanish, geography, chemistry and information technology.
Thomas also placed fifth and ninth in the Caribbean for geography and French, respectively. Locally, she was first for geography and fourth for French.
Across the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Unit 1, she also got straight ones for communication studies, geography, Spanish, and French. In Unit 2, she received grade ones for Caribbean studies, geography and Spanish, and a grade two in French.
“I was very grateful to God when I saw my results because, though the exam preparation journey was rough, I had received the results I was hoping and praying for. For my CSEC and Unit 1 results, I remember crying tears of joy while looking at the screen,” Thomas told the Jamaica Observer in an interview last Thursday.
“However, for my Unit 2 results, though they were excellent I was a bit disappointed with my French grade because the languages are my strongest subjects. Nevertheless, I was pleased overall. I was very nervous waiting on my CSEC and CAPE grades. I remember waiting five hours after results were released to check my Unit 1 results because I was anxious. Thankfully, they were great results.”
Thomas, who enjoys singing, the performing arts, volunteering and spending time with her friends, grew up in Old Harbour, St Catherine, and attended Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School where she was involved in the choir, was president of the 4-H Club in grade 4, and bacame captain of the quiz team and head girl.
“I was raised in a family that would always encourage me to credit God for my successes and to lean on Him during my challenging times,” she told the Sunday Observer.
She then moved to May Pen, Clarendon, with her mother, father and sister. She eventually transitioned to Campion College and continued on the same high-achieving trajectory. At Campion, in addition to being head girl, she was president of various clubs and co-coordinator for the PEP Prep Programme.
“I spent all seven years of high school traveling every day from May Pen to Campion College in Kingston, which worsened my family’s financial situation due to all the additional expenses of travelling. I am super grateful for the sacrifices my family has made, despite how financially challenging it was, and
I am thankful for the help and support of relatives and family friends,” she said.
“I had to adapt to this situation by napping during my long journey to and from school to compensate for the lack of sleep, as well as