Hanover Student is Board of Supervision’s CSEC Top Achiever

The Board of Supervision’s 2023 Top Achiever in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Mickeisha Golding, is a beacon of inspiration, raising above challenges to achieve academic success.

The 17-year-old sixth-form student at Montego Bay High School, who hails from Hopewell in Hanover, passed 10 subjects in one sitting with seven grade ones, two grade twos and one grade three.

She was among 61 outstanding students from across the island, and four from Hanover, who were recently honoured by the Board of Supervision (for the relief of the poor in Jamaica) for achievement in Primary Exit Profile (PEP), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and CSEC in 2023.

At the awards ceremony held at Boone Hall Oasis in St. Andrew, the students received financial grants to support their education, along with plaques and gift baskets.

The youngest of three siblings, Mickeisha has been in the care of her maternal grandmother since her mother passed away in 2006, when she was just two months old.

It was her primary school teacher, Marsha Cooper, who identified her academic potential at an early age and encouraged her in her studies, and to select the all-girls Montego Bay High for her secondary education.

Bolstered by her grandmother’s unwavering support, Mickeisha excelled in her studies.

She is currently studying accounts and mathematics at the CAPE level and is doing economics in CSEC.

She aspires to become a chartered accountant and intends to pursue higher education at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Mickeisha’s goal is to make her family and community proud, while fulfilling her dreams and career goals.

Undaunted by the social stigma associated with being “a child of the poor”, Mickeisha stands tall with no shame, accepting her life journey and knowing that her worth is not measured in dollars.

She continues to chart a path towards a brighter future that will break the chain of poverty for herself and her family.

“One’s worth is defined by their attitude and actions, not their circumstance. Seeking government aid or poor relief is morally right and legal, and I am not ashamed,” she says.

A devout Christian, Mickeisha finds strength in her faith and is propelled by the wealth of support and encouragement from family, friends, and community.

Her message to her peers is one of empowerment, urging them to “seize every opportunity that comes your way and never be ashamed of seeking assistance when needed”.

Chairman of the Hanover Municipal Corporation and Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Sheridan Samuels, commends Mickeisha and the other awardees from the parish, lauding their tenacity and determination.

“These young individuals have defied the odds and have proven that poverty should never be an impediment to success,” he says.

Inspector of the Poor for Hanover, Neila Edram, tells JIS News that the parish currently has 302 children registered in the programme. They are provided with lunch and transportation allowances.

The Board of Supervision is a statutory body under the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

It was established under the Poor Relief Act to supervise and monitor the delivery of poor-relief services through the municipal corporations.

The annual awards ceremony acknowledges the academic achievements of children whose parents are registered as clients.