Steer Town shines | Daughter of murder victim attains 8 CXC subjects

Steer Town shines | Daughter of murder victim attains 8 CXC subjects

August 26, 2019 0 By Horace Mills

Steer Town, which is reputed as being one of the toughest communities in the Ocho Rios area of St Ann, has produced another young scholar – Sanique Johnson.

She recently earned eight CSEC subjects from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which awards Grade One, Grade Two and Grade Three as passes.

Sanique attained the highest grade possible (Grade One) in four of the subjects – Chemistry, English A, Biology, and Information Technology. She also got Grade Two in the other four subjects – Mathematics, English B, Social Studies and Spanish.

“I know I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” she told The Beacon, adding that she feels ‘good’ about the success.

Sanique attended Steer Town Primary and Junior High School as well as Saint Hilda’s Diocesan High in St Ann.

She will enroll in the sixth form programme at Saint Hilda’s as she journeys closer towards fulfilling her dream of becoming a biochemist.

Sanique’s mom, Melinda McIntosh, said she is pleased with the CXC results, especially considering the tough circumstances under which they were achieved.

She explained that she was nine months pregnant, and Sanique was eight years old when the father of her children was shot dead.

“It was the hardest thing for me raising up four girls without a dad,” Melinda told The Beacon.

“I never gave up; I fight the battle,” she added.

Sanique Johnson and her mother Melinda McIntosh. Photos provided

Melinda later got help from her common-law-husband, Ralston Morris.

She expressed hope that her daughter’s CXC achievement will be an inspiration to other young people in Steer Town. “My daughter told me that she is going to work hard and show the young people of Steer Town that something good can come out of Steer Town, and that they can achieve if they work hard enough,” the mother added.

Sanique, in the meantime, said the challenges she endured have strengthened her resolve.

“I have learnt to be independent and to work hard for what I want; it also made me humble and appreciative of what I have,” she further told The Beacon.


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