“I also wanted to make my family proud” – Region 9 top student

…cops 18 subjects at CSEC

Sixteen-year-old Arvin Lawrie is this year’s top student at the St Ignatius Secondary School in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The youngest of four siblings, Arvin wrote eighteen subjects at the just concluded Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations (CSEC) and copped ten Grade Ones, seven Grade Twos and one Grade Three.
“When the minister [Education Minister Priya Manickchand] announced that there is one student from my school who got 10 Grade Ones, my friends began messaging me, and they were in my inbox saying it must be me. Even then I did not want to get too excited, and remained humble until I could confirm,” the elated teen told Guyana Times.
The teen was transferred from the St Joseph High School in Georgetown to the St. Ignatius Secondary School a year ago, when his mother, a teacher, was promoted to serve in Region Nine. However, he explained that the decision was also influenced by the lack of sufficient teachers at the top school for some of the subjects he was interested in pursuing at CSEC.
“I always wanted to write a lot of subjects, and the teachers saw potential; and I also wanted to make my family proud,” he said during a telephone interview.
Speaking about the community of St Ignatius, where he spent one year, he said it is “quiet” and a wonderful place to live, though he had to grow accustomed to the different food.
St Ignatius is one of the largest Amerindian communities in the Central Rupununi, accommodating over 1,000 residents. It is located close to Lethem, the border town with Brazil.
Arvin aspires to become a neurosurgeon, driven by his love for science, which first intrigued him during his primary education.
“I have always loved science, since I was in primary school and learnt about the human anatomy,” Arvin said.
This love was amplified when he was introduced to the popular television series ‘Greys Anatomy’, an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical interns, residents, and other medical personnel. The teen said that upon looking at the surgical procedures and care taken in the series, he also recognised that there are openings for more specialists in the local field of medicine.
Speaking about his plans now that he has completed his secondary education, the lad said he would be proceeding to university to study to fulfill his dream of becoming a Neurosurgeon.
The subjects he wrote were Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Human & Social Biology, English Language, Mathematics, Information Technology, Social Studies, Agriculture Science, Electronic Document Preparation & Management (EDPM), Food, Nutrition & Health, Geography, Industrial Technology – Building Technology, Industrial Technology – Mechanical, Office Administration, Physical Education & Sport, Principles of Business, and Technical Drawing.

More infrastructure and equipment
He expressed gratitude to his teachers, colleagues from both St Ignatius Secondary and St Joseph High, and his parents for their support.
As he moves on to the next step in his education, the teen urges the provision of more classrooms and better infrastructure for the students of St Ignatius Secondary. He said, “Even though I only spent a year there, I believe there is need for more infrastructure and equipment,” to make teachers and students comfortable.
His mother, Camile Lawrie, said she is proud of his achievements. “I am happy and satisfied, and I knew he had the potential,” she said.
She noted that, apart from classes – which were offered by his subject teachers free of cost – and a few online sessions, Arvin was self-motivated and studied well for his exams.
St Ignatius Secondary School also recorded eleven other top performers with Grades I to III passes in six or more subjects. According to a post on the school’s social media page, the other top performers are: Sasha Kissoon, who passed 12 subjects; Sanya Webster, who passed 11 subjects; Kateri Da Silva with 10 subjects; Osuna La Rose and Lezana Singh with nine subjects each; Fabiana Gomes, Jenille Griffith, Makalia Henrico and David Stanïslaus with eight subjects; and Mirza Lucas Casimero and Jeremiah Thomas with six subjects.