Shenel Graham excels
Published:Monday | September 5, 2016 | 12:00 AMShanique Samuels
Shenel Graham did not have all she needed to prepare for her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, but she is now thanking God for His helping in her scoring nine ones and a two in the 10 subjects she sat.
Graham, who resides in the troubled community of Bucknor, in Clarendon, attends Glenmuir High School.
Looking back, she told The Gleaner her task would have been a lot easier if she had some of the resources she needed.
One of her main challenges was that she did not have access to revision papers, nor could her family afford extra lessons. She also had no Internet access.
"These resources could have helped a lot, but I still surpassed the challenges by visiting my school library during my lunchtime, after school and during free sessions. Envisioning what I wanted to achieve, I also had to put in all my efforts in studying with the few resources I had, putting in the all-nighters along with all the prayers and fasting I did and those which were done on my behalf," said a grateful Graham.
According to her, she started her "rigid and thorough studying" two months before the CSEC exams.
"At times the pressure was too much, and I would feel like closing the books and going back to sleep, but somehow I would always remember this Bible verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9; 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness,'" she told The Gleaner, adding that she garnered strength from the verse to get her refocused.
Prayers helped
It also helped, she said, that she had the support of a praying family and kind well-wishers.
"I must say that I could not have efficiently prepared and completed those examinations without the help of Almighty God. My mom and I prayed before each exam, placing it into his hands and knowing that the outcome would be favourable," said Graham, who proudly boasts of being a Christian.
Graham will be going on to sixth form at Glenmuir, where she hopes to begin her journey to becoming a corporate lawyer.