Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Winning Desrey Fox award was not surprising says Trishel Torres
– who plans to become neurosurgeon
Her desire to see her school standout academically was the driving force behind Trishel Torres’s competitiveness in every class. In fact this was enough for the Santa Rosa Secondary School student to secure passes in 11 subject areas at the 2015 May/June sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.
Trishel Torres displays her Desrey Fox Award.
Torres was named the Most Outstanding CSEC performer from a hinterland school, an achievement that allowed her to be selected for the inaugural Desrey Fox Award.
She was presented with the award at the Ministry of Education’s 2015 National Awards ceremony on Thursday which was held at the National Cultural Centre.
The award was first announced by Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, when the 2015 CSEC results were unveiled earlier this year. He disclosed that the best performing student drawn from the hinterland regions will receive the award which will serve to honour the late Minister within the Ministry of Education in the People’s Progressive Party Civic Government, Dr. Desrey Fox.
Shortly after receiving her award, Torres said that she was not at all surprised that she was identified for the award which has made her eligible for a scholarship at the University of Guyana (UG).
She wrote 11 subjects and secured 10 grade one passes and one grade two. But she was not the only student whose competitiveness could have easily claimed the award. Torres recalled that she was competing “head to head” with a male classmate. “We were always in competition,” intimated the smiling 17-year-old.
She was however able to outwit her classmate because of the subject areas she chose to write at CSEC. She copped the coveted award for being the most all-round best performing student. Among the subjects she wrote at the 2015 CSEC examination were Mathematics (Grade 1), English A (Grade 1), English B (Grade 2), Integrated Science (Grade 1), Social Studies (Grade 1), Human and Social Biology (Grade 1), Principles of Accounts (Grade 1), Principles of Business (Grade 1), Office Administration (Grade 1), Agriculture Science (Double Award) (Grade 1), Physical Education and Sport (Grade 1).
The Region One Santa Rosa Secondary School student however wanted to do more subjects. She disclosed that her desire was to attend the Anna Regina Secondary School in Region Two as that school there offers a wider range of subjects. Her parents, Vincent and Yvette Torres, did not see this as a feasible option and encouraged her to remain at Santa Rosa Secondary.
But she was keen on ensuring that the hinterland school be recognised. “I wanted to make my school stand out…We were always below other hinterland schools and so I worked hard and encouraged my classmates to do the best that they could too,” said Torres.
She credits her success to the support she gained from her parents, friends and of course, her dedicated teachers.
“I am happy; I am elated,” she added as she looked at the wooden plaque she received for being the most outstanding hinterland student.
Since graduating, Torres has been giving back to her school as a trainee teacher. She however plans on pursing studies in Biochemistry and Biology at the University of Guyana.
Her ultimate goal is to become a neurosurgeon. She hopes to delve into this field in hope of someday finding a way to cure epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological condition that often manifests in recurrent, unprovoked seizures.
Torres has an interest in the condition because she grew up seeing an aunt suffer from the condition. “She is actually about 50 years now and sometimes I look at her and cry,” said Torres of her aunt. She noted that while neurology is known to be a challenging field, “I am going for it.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Deeply concerned about political dysfunction in society
Dear Editor The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is deeply concerned about the political dysfunction in society that is... more
Haiti: Tragically Descending into Deeper Crisis
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- As gang violence spirals out of control in Haiti, the limitations of international... more
Weekend Cartoon
