Giving up social media pays off for top scorer
KOTA KINABALU: Giving up social media and entertainment paid off for Jade Marie Robert Jomiji, who scored 10A+ for her SPM examination.
The 18-year-old from SM St Michael, Penampang, was in tears when her results were announced.
“I gave up Facebook, movies and other entertainment just to focus on my studies,” she said after a ceremony to announce the results at SM All Saints here.
She attributed her success to the support from her family, friends and teachers who helped her overcome the stress. Jade wants to be a dietician.
Her schoolmates Valerian Paul Lasiuan and Eva Eleanor Ng Bansing, who were also among the top scorers in the state, used totally different methods to prepare for the exam.
Valerian, an avid gamer, who scored 9A+ and 1A, said he focused 100% in class and tried to take in as much knowledge as possible in school, so that he could go home and play games.
“I am more of a last-minute person and didn’t spend hours studying every day. But I made sure I finished my homework and understood what my teachers taught.”
Valerian, the second of three siblings, wants to be an engineer.
Eva, who scored 8A+ and 2As, attributes her success to living a balanced life.
“I study, exercise, sleep well and make sure I have enough time for myself,” said Eva, who wants to be a dermatologist.
Kota Kinabalu High School student Kon Siew Yan, who scored 11A+, said her dream was to be doctor.
At the ceremony, Sabah Education Department director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul congratulated all students and teachers for making last year’s SPM the best in history.
“Our National Grade Average (GPN) for 2017 was 5.51, the best ever achieved; and for the first time, too, we achieved over a 50% pass rate at 50.88%,” she said.