Region One teen emerges Brickdam Secondary School’s top CSEC performer

Aug 24, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – “I wanted to prove that great students can come from any school, not just the so-called ‘top’ ones.

These are the words of sixteen-year-old Allyana Rose Fraser, who emerged as the top performer at Brickdam Secondary School in this year’s Caribbean Examinations Council (CSEC) Secondary Education Certificate Examination. With 10 Grade Ones, 5 Grade Twos, and 2 Grade Threes, Fraser’s success is a testament to perseverance, faith, and determination.

Her journey, however, began far away from the bustling streets of Georgetown—in the small village of Hosororo, nestled in Mabaruma, Barima-Waini Region One.

“My family is predominantly Amerindian, and everyone seemed to pursue normal, simple lives,” Fraser explained. “I never thought my story would turn out any differently.”

That all changed when her mother made the bold decision to move to Georgetown to further her studies. For young Allyana, it was both exciting and overwhelming. “Moving to Georgetown as a little girl was hard. People spoke differently, the culture was different, even the way they carried themselves was strange to me. To my five-year-old self, it was like being dropped into a whole new world.”

She started her education at Graham’s Hall Primary School, where she discovered her love for science and mathematics—subjects that would later shape her career ambitions.

She  later transferred to Success Elementary. “Success Elementary was very challenging, with strict teachers, a heavy workload, and days where I questioned if I was even good enough to keep up,” she admitted. Still, by Grade Six, she had set her sights on St. Stanislaus College. “I don’t even know why exactly, I just thought it was a ‘good school,’ and I wanted it.”

But the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her path. Writing the NGSA during that period, Fraser fell short of her dream placement and was instead assigned to Brickdam Secondary. “At that time, I thought my world had ended. I couldn’t have been more wrong,” she reflected.

Brickdam Secondary, she would later learn, was exactly where she was meant to be. “The school wasn’t just a place of teaching; it became a family. I found people who cared, who pushed me, and who gave me space to grow. I made a promise to myself when I entered Brickdam to make my school proud.”

By Grade Nine, Fraser had already charted her career goal: petroleum engineering.

Determined to align her studies with that dream, she chose the science stream, preparing to write 11 subjects. But she wasn’t satisfied with just that. “I wanted to challenge myself to study an additional six subjects,” she said, crediting Business Head of Department, Ms. Albertha Fredricks, for her guidance.”

“She worked beyond the call of duty to ensure that I covered the various syllabi. This entailed sleepless nights, endless textbooks, several extra classes, and late-night studying with my best friend, where we would push each other to keep going.”

The journey, she admitted, was anything but easy. “There were so many moments of self-doubt, tears, and quiet struggles no one else knew about. But I was determined to make my school proud.”

That determination paid off on results day. “I could barely breathe. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. Seeing 10 Grade Ones, 5 Grade Twos, and 2 Grade Threes made me break down and cry. It wasn’t only happiness; it was a mix of relief and thankfulness all at once. Every late night, every prayer, every hard moment, and all the support from my mom and family suddenly made sense.”

Looking ahead, Fraser’s dream remains steadfast. She said: “My plan remains the same: to further my studies in the field of Petroleum Engineering. I want to take what I learnt to help grow Guyana’s oil and gas industry, make a real impact in my country, and show other children, especially those from small villages like mine and from schools that are not considered the best in Guyana, that they can aim high too.”

For now, her immediate goal is to secure a scholarship to continue her education. “Right now, my biggest goal is to earn a scholarship so I can take the next step toward that dream, because I truly believe that education is the key to success.”

Reflecting on her journey, the teen said with gratitude, “This journey was tough, but all the hard times and doubts helped shape me into the person I am today. I thank God for guiding me through it all, and I thank my mother, grandmother, my aunts, my teachers, my best friend, and the many others for standing with me.”

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• Allyana Rose Fraser, Amerindian, Brickdam Secondary School, CSEC

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