Da-xia is top student in Tobago

Da-xia Ayari Lii James, 11, of Signal Hill Government Primary School has copped the top spot in this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) in Tobago. She earned a total score of 244.541, placing 98th nationally, and was assigned to Bishop High School.

James, who was not at school when the result was announced, told Newsday Tobago in a telephone interview, that she was overjoyed at the news.

“I am feeling overjoyed, I am indeed thankful for the results,” she said, not too surprised with the achievement.

“I was prepared for that examination and as a result I am grateful of the results. I had classes with Miss Gopaul (Standard 5 teacher at the school) both in the morning before school and after school, as well as I had to do a lot of practice test on my own supervised by my dad, mom and grandmother,” she said.

Her father, Dale James, said that for him, it was never really about topping the exam, but just encouraging his daughter to do her best.

“I am proud, ecstatic… she even exceeded her own expectations, but it was expected as Da-xia has always been a consistent performer. We weren’t shock but it was indeed surprising because she didn’t think that she had written the exams as good as she wanted, so just imagine if she had,” James said.

Taking second place in the exam was Annaya Baird of Lambeau Anglican Primary school. Baird is currently out of the country.

In third place was another student for Signal Hill Government Primary School, Tori Isaac.

“It’s very exciting… but it was a lot of pushing with hard work. At first the work was challenging, but then I became accustomed to the amount of work so to me the exam really wasn’t hard, so I expected this kind of results,” she said. Isaac also wants to be a lawyer.

Her father, Trevor Isaac, said that he was indeed proud of his daughter’s achievement.

“I’m happy that she was able to achieve that. I know she worked hard, she was dedicated, she did what she had to do, and I am proud of her. This is just the start of another journey, but I think that she would continue to work hard. I am really, really happy that she was able to accomplish this,” he said.

The fourth spot in the examination was captured by Anaiya Wickham, also of Signal Hill Government Primary.