Shy student becomes regional standout

Amelia McKnight has achieved regional and national success in a subject she admits her family had neither the skills nor resources to fully practise: budgeting. Her ninth-place regional finish in family and resource management in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations has brought joy to Old Harbour High School.

The soft-spoken grade-12 student describes herself as shy and uncomfortable in social spaces, yet she showed remarkable confidence in her school-based assessment (SBA), where she boldly stated her intention to earn a grade one in the subject. She delivered on that promise.

That grade propelled Amelia to ninth place in the Caribbean and added to a string of successes in this year’s external examinations.

Amelia did eight CSEC subjects this year, bringing her total passes to 11 since she began taking exams in grade nine.

Amelia explained that family and resource management teaches practical life skills often overlooked in traditional academic spaces.

“You get to learn so much about the family, the role of the family, taking care of your whole school, learning how to budget. It’s pretty much the essentials of going and living on your own and starting your own family,” she explained.

The subject is not compulsory at Old Harbour High but is paired with food and nutrition, which Amelia described as a “bonus”. She was unaware at first how closely the two subjects complemented each other, but by grade 10, she embraced both. She earned a grade one in food and nutrition as well, another result that surprised her despite her high expectations.

Most valuable lessons

One of the most valuable lessons she gained, Amelia said, was budgeting.

“I feel like it will allow me to become a more responsible adult ... . I grew up in a family that doesn’t really – they budget, but not through writing it down, like in their heads. So what that subject really made me understand that this is something that is really important – especially for me who doesn’t really have those types of resources – to budget,” she explained.

Consumer education, she added, was another critical takeaway. While she expected to perform well, the regional placement came as a shock.

“In the beginning, you have to introduce yourself and say what you want out of this subject, why you chose the subject, and what grade that you would like to get. So I wrote that I wanted to get a grade one, and it’s not normal for me to just say I want something like that, and I felt a bit nervous writing that in my portfolio without doing the exams yet,” she recalled. “I felt satisfied that I was able to accomplish that.”

Amelia learned of her regional ranking through a former classmate who congratulated her on making the CSEC Merit List. Initially confused, she later realised the magnitude of the achievement and described feeling shocked, particularly since she had left the examination feeling uncertain and rushed, having multiple exams scheduled back-to-back.

The subject required both theory and practical work, including topics such as floral arrangement and role-playing exercises like table setting.

Now in sixth form, Amelia is pursuing communication studies, biology, physics, and chemistry as she works towards her goal of becoming a doctor.

“It’s really my focus at this point,” she said.

Principal Lynton Weir praised Amelia’s accomplishment.

“Amelia is on the Principal’s Honour Roll. Her photograph is there. But what it is that we have done? I have done a master’s degree in education leadership and administration and concentrated on motivation. So this foyer area, where you’re seeing photographs, is about motivation. So let us say, for example, other students that have been in the top 10 in the Caribbean, their photographs are out there,” he stated.

Not only are the students celebrated, but the teachers who guide them as well.

He said Amelia’s achievement was not just school, but community and family success.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com