Students rewarded for beating the odds

petty fees and book fees were also paid.

Hinds said that, like the students who are awarded for their placement in the top ten, students who faced severe challenges should also be acknowledged.

“We know that every year we hear of the top girl and boy and the top ten students, while those that struggle you seldom hear about, so we wanted to highlight and big them up.” ( TG) Some students overcame severe challenges to prevail during the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE) or Common Entrance Exam this year.

The efforts of at least 11 of them were recognised by the Barbados Association of Professional Social Workers’ (BAPSW) in its moving inaugural Resilience Awards ceremony at the Warrens Office Complex on Thursday.

Alicia Payne, mother of Katriel Payne, 11, was one of several parents who shared their children’s stories. She revealed that in November 2021 her husband Ivor was diagnosed with stage three cancer and hospitalised in January.

Then amidst remote learning, Katriel had to deal with a disruptive neighbour during class time, frequent Internet connectivity issues and malfunctioning laptops.

To make matters worse, their family also had to deal with several COVID diagnoses and the loss of a family friend.

“After all of that, I got a phone call that our best friend, who was also his [Katriel’s] best friend, passed away suddenly. All of this was adding up just before Common Entrance. So when he went into the exam everything just came down on him that particular morning, but I held him and said ‘we got this you are going to go to the school you want to because I am by your side’,” she recalled as she wiped tears away.

And like her older son Necoli Payne, Katriel received marks for the Alleyne School.

“After the results came back, my husband called me to tell me he was going to get an award, and all I could do was scream . . . because this topped it off for me because I don’t know much more one person could bear. It was debt after debt, and sickness after sickness, so it was tough, so thank you for reaching out because we really needed this,” she added.

Similarly, Jan Neblett said her son Jordan Neblett also had to deal with his father being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Although the 11-year-old was known to struggle with mathematics, she said she was shocked when he was able to score in the 70s.

“The maths was a challenge because he had to try to understand the concepts and I could see his frustration sometimes. However, when face-to-face school came back that is when things improved and his teacher [Angela Sealy-Lewis] worked hard with him.

“I remember telling Jordan, ‘Your teacher is putting in a lot of effort, but she cannot put in all the effort; you have to do your part and so said, so done. When the results came back I was looking for him to get in the 40s or 50s but when I saw 70 I screamed,” Neblett said.

Jordan will be attending Deighton Griffith in a few weeks.

Serious challenges

He will be joined by Sariah Noel, 11, who also had overcome serious challenges.

During an emotional speech, Sariah’s mother Shavonne Noel told the audience about having to relocate after they received threats.

“Sariah had a very bad online experience. We had family issues, there was verbal abuse and threats you name it . . . We had to relocate from home twice and everything went downhill and she was at the back of the class.

“However, when she went back to school things got better. She said, ‘Mummy I want to go to Queen’s College. She didn’t make it, but I will support her all the way God’s willing,” Shavonne said.

The other students awarded were Aiden Lowe; Robin Clarke, who lost her mother, Jacobi Hinkson, Jada Rawlins; Jahswena Staber; Jakala Roach; Jordan Fergusson;

The Barbados Association of Professional Social Workers awarded several students who overcame serious challenges and improved significantly in the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination during the inaugural Resilience Awards.

(Pictures by Reco Moore.)

Sahara Agard, and Shakur Benjamin.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment Jehu Wiltshire; education officer at the Ministry of Education, Cyrilene Willoughby; BAPSW president SharonRose Gittens and Juliet Hinds, community outreach & advocacy pillar also attended the event and presented the children with their awards.

They received certificates, plaques, and personalised merchandise. Their