Prayer And Hard Work...,

Prayer And Hard Work Got Me Through, Says Odane Dawkins

"I prayed and studied."

That is how 16-year-old Odane Dawkins, of Glenmuir High School inClarendon, prepared for the 2012 Caribbean Secondary EducationCertificate examinations.

The meticulous scholar, who lives in Claremont Heights in Old Harbour, St Catherine, obtained 11 distinctions in mathematics, English language, English literature, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, Spanish, economics, and information technology

"I did 11 subjects because I wanted to broaden my horizons. I wanted to make sure that I touched every area so that whatever field I decide to go in, I have a subject that can help me in that field," he explained.

Notwithstanding, he has already decided that he wants to become a gynaecologist.

On reflecting on the exams, the confident teen noted that hard work and sacrifice yielded the desired results.

"All my profile scores are As, except for geography, where I got one B," he explained.

Aimed to excel

The Marlie Mount Primary School alumnus said he worked with a special timetable and always aimed to excel.

"My drive is to succeed and to live up to expectations and to make those around me who believe in me proud," he said, pointing out that his older sister, Onella, also a past student of Glenmuir, copped 10 distinctions.

Odane, valedictorian of the graduating class of 2012, has earned numerous awards for outstanding academic performance.

In 2007, he was the recipient of the Scotiabank County Scholarship for achieving the highest Grade Six Achievement Test score in the county of Middlesex. He was also awarded a scholarship to the Johns Hopkins University in the summer of 2011 to study chemistry for three weeks.

Commitment important

The youngster, who serves as president of the youth group at Bethel Baptist Church in Gutters, St Catherine, enjoys singing and is a member of his school choir which toured Miami, Orlando, and Tampa in the United States, recently.

While he heaped praises on his teachers - particularly Simone Bartley, information technology, and Yvonne Lewis, geography - he highlighted the importance of commitment and prayer to being successful.

"Put your mind to whatever you want to do. Anything can be achieved if one just puts his mind to it and prays at all times to achieve that goal," he said.

For his mom, Karlene Dawkins, vice-principal, Ensom City Primary School, Odane's impeccable performance is not surprising.

"I am really thankful and excited. I thank God. I had no doubt that he would have done well, but you know, sometimes I was nervous, but he has been doing well over the years, so this just tops it off," she told The Gleaner.

Both his mother and father, Randolph, a risk assessment officer in the Department of Correctional Services in the Ministry of National Security, have been the wind beneath his wings.

"In our household, education is priority, so we helped to make his study timetable and supervised him - more or less. We tried to get up with him in the mornings to study," his proud but humble mother remarked.