“It couldn’t get any better,” Tricia Daley declared in a Gleaner interview as she spoke about her daughter Tia Smith’s success in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations.
While attending Campion College in St Andrew, Tia (as a private student) sat and passed Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics while in Grade 10, scoring a one in the subject. The following year, in Grade 11, she sat another 10 CSEC subjects, scoring ones in all of them.
Somehow, that performance escaped the attention of national media.
With this year’s performance, though, the 17-year-old’s brilliance couldn’t be kept hidden any longer.
In her first year in sixth form (lower sixth), Tia sat five Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects and, amazingly, got ones in all five.
At the CSEC level, she got ones in mathematics, additional mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, Caribbean history, English A, English B, information technology, Spanish, and technical drawing.
In CAPE, Tia earned grade ones in communication studies, computer science, economics, physics, and pure mathematics.
The proud mother shared that students at Campion are limited to sit four CAPE subjects but Tia got permission to do an extra one. This, apparently, because of her brilliant showing in the CSEC exams.
“I’m really proud of myself and extremely grateful that all my effort and hard work paid off,” Tia told The Gleaner.
“My initial reaction on results day was pretty much the same for both CSEC and CAPE. I found that I was always extremely anxious in the weeks leading up to the release of results. So, once I opened the portal and saw my grades, the first thing I can recall feeling was relief.”
She said English literature was her favourite subject in lower school, which shifted to pure maths in sixth form.
Tia’s continued excellence not only lifted her family and the teachers at Campion College but also teachers at her former school, Vaz Prep, Daley pointed out.
Tia is extremely grateful for the support of her family in achieving the success she has, describing them as one of her biggest motivators.
“I love making them proud. One of the last things I’d ever want to do is disappoint them. They’ve done so much for me and made countless sacrifices, so I feel that, by making them proud, they would know their sacrifices weren’t in vain,” the young lady stated.
“I’m also motivated by my hopes for the future. Oftentimes when I feel tired or demotivated, I think about the life that I want for myself and the things I want to achieve. By doing so, I’m not only able to hold myself to a certain standard academically but I’m also able to push myself to achieve more.”
Tia hopes to become a civil engineer or architectural engineer, as, since Grade Four, she has always taken an interest in things related.
“I’d spend my free time designing floor plans, sketching home exteriors, and watching videos on Architectural Digest and real estate YouTube channels,” the teen revealed.
Her mother said that Tia’s humility is only matched by her academic brilliance.
“I love all my kids but, trust me, you see, for her, up, down, round the corner? Everywhere I will go for her,” Daley said.
The doting mother shared that last summer, Tia was on a summer job, at which two of her schoolmates were also employed, when exam results were released.
“She said to me that, ‘I don’t want you to share anything with my coworkers or anyone in the department’. I asked why, and she said, ‘I don’t know what everybody else grades are going to be like and I don’t want anybody to feel anyway’,” Mom recalled.
“And I said ‘Oh, my God! That’s the thing with her, the level of humility’. In my head I’m thinking ‘you’ve aced 10 ones, straight A profile, and your concern, which is fabulous of course, is you’re thinking about other people’s feelings. You don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade’.”
Daley said the family is delighted with Tia’s success.
“We celebrate everything and we celebrate each other and everybody is always supportive. So, everybody was just happy, it was collective happiness,” she said.
Tia had some encouraging words she wanted to share.
“I’m not sure who will read this or what they’re experiencing in life, but I’d advise them to be strong and to persevere. As bad as things may seem right now, it will get better. And, if things aren’t going in your favour, never forget to give yourself grace and be mindful of harbouring negative feelings which may end up holding you back,” the young lady stated.
“Find something that motivates you and make it your driving force. Push yourself to constantly do better, believe in yourself, and pray to God and ask Him to give you the strength, guidance and wisdom to unlock your full potential and be your best self.”
Really wise words from a 17-year-old.