TWO Guyanese students who recently wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) have topped the list of exam writers across the Caribbean. And they have been accordingly recognized.
Queen's College student, Daniel Ram, is the most outstanding student in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) May/June 2003 examinations.
School of the Nations student Gina Selina Arjoon won the award for the Most Outstanding Performance in Business Education.
An excited Daniel attributed his success to God, hard work, sleepless nights, supportive family, teachers, principal, church and friends.
Born August 21, 1986, Daniel said he was overjoyed when he heard the news. "All the hard work paid off."
Daniel is a worship leader at his church, Lusignan Baptist, where he plays the piano, keyboard and drums. He is learning to play the guitar.
He plans to attend QC Sixth Form 'A' level cape and further his academic studies. His goal in life: to find cures for diseases.
His father Dr. Chatterpaul Singh Ram is a dentist and his mother Ruth Ram is a medical doctor.
Dr. Chatterpaul said his mother inculcated in him the habit of reading from an early age. He said they are elated at the news and are grateful to the many persons that made it possible. Daniel is a lover of cricket, volleyball and chess.
A beaming Gina Arjoon accredits her success to her teacher, Sir Dexter Philips, who made learning fun and encouraged her to develop a love for the subject. Another plus was that her parents are all business personalities. Her Dad, Maurice Arjoon, is attached to New Building Society and her Mom, Janick Arjoon, is a consultant.
The quiet-spoken youth, born January 22, 1987, said her parents and teachers are thrilled but that she has not yet grasped the full measure of the news.
She is currently pursuing her degree in Economics at the University of Guyana and is working toward a scholarship in Canada and a PhD in Economics.
Gina's ultimate goal is to make a difference in people's lives.
The announcement was made by Dr Lucy Steward, Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), at a press conference yesterday at CXC headquarters in Barbados.
Two hundred and six candidates satisfied the criteria for the Most Outstanding Candidate overall, which is eight (8) Grade One's. These candidates came from Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
Mr Ram also copped the awards for the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Humanities and the Most Outstanding Candidate in the Sciences with four and five Grade I's in the Humanities and Sciences, respectively.