Wakenaam boy excels at CSEC 2021, awarded region’s top Business student

By Raywattie Deonarine

Despite the pandemic and poor internet connectivity in Wakenaam Island, Region Three, 17-year-old Naresh Jagnanan, a former student of Essequibo Islands Secondary School, has managed to secure 11 grade ones at the 2021 Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), and has emerged as the region’s top business student.

His outstanding achievement has also placed him 2nd for Region Three.
The smart and intelligent young man was ecstatic at the news of his achievement, which was relayed to him by the principal of the Essequibo Islands Secondary School. During an interview with Sunday Times, Jagnanan, the youngest of his parents’ children, has credited his success to late-night study and extra lessons; and also to God and his parents and teachers for their support and encouragement, while adding that his hard work and sacrifices over the past five years have paid off.

“I didn’t have any struggle growing up. My parents, who didn’t have much, made sure that I gain the necessary financial support…words of encouragement and appreciated love that every student deserved, especially in these unparalleled times.” The young man said when asked what were his struggles growing up.
Jagnanan is very passionate about education, not just academically, but holistically, as life in itself is a learning experience. He also has a strong passion for numbers, by ascension Mathematics, Finance, Accounting, and Economics.
“My love for accounting started off as a hobby by helping my colleagues and schoolmates, and by usually securing hundred percent in Principles of Accounts at my school… However, I realised that accounting was my destiny, and I know that I can optimally and effectively contribute to Guyana’s development in that very field.” Jagnanan told this publication.

Because of his passion for education, the young scholar began to lay the foundation of his career path in the Business and Accounting field. He is currently pursuing a FIA Diploma at Cacique Accounting College, from whence he would then progress to an ACCA qualification to further his knowledge in accounting.
Jagnanan is planning to simultaneously enroll at the University of Guyana in the next semester. As a result of his excellent performance and passion for education, Jagnanan received a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, for which he is extremely grateful.
When asked what he does leading up to the exams, Jagnanan said, “I started revision as early as possible. Reviewed the content of all my textbooks; spent many nights working past papers and other questions; burned the midnight oil with my educators, who took their personal time to provide more knowledge about the syllabus content to us, and ensured that I am knowledgable about every specific objective in the CSEC syllabus.”
However, Jagnanan urges his peers and students who would be writing the upcoming CSEC examinations to work hard but find a balance with academic and leisure time. He posits that students should take his advice and ‘burn the midnight oil’.
“Every student should try their best in their studies… (Burn) the midnight oil, work hard, but don’t forget to take care of your mental health, because it is very important… It is very infrequent to see a student from the small island of Wakenaam receiving a regional award, and initially I was very astonished, as well as my relatives. Nevertheless, I felt a great sense of pride and honour to receive the regional award for the best student in business studies, and I am unapologetically exhilarated to represent not just my school and island, but my country on a regional scale.” The young man has said.