History-maker D’Jhane Brown smashes 10 CXC subjects

Compound that already challenging scenario with covid-19 limitations and one would think that any student attempting to learn may at times feel overwhelmed operating in a period dubbed the ‘new normal’ which ironically was anything but normal for more than two years.

Well, no one gave D’Jhane Brown the memo that all those obstacles were considered insurmountable and therefore the perfect excuse to quit. Indeed the 16-year-old student from B.B. Coke High School in St. Elizabeth overcame all of her academic challenges and surpassed even her own expectations when she aced all of ten subjects.

This young girl from deep rural district of Prospect copped all three pure sciences and achieved distinction in Chemistry and Agricultural Science, becoming the first individual at her school to accomplish this feat.  She knew she would do well but exceeding her own expectations blew her own mind.

“I was shocked when I found out but very happy that all that hard work paid off. Everyone expected well from me because they knew my capabilities so I’m very pleased I did not disappoint,” Brown said in an interview with Old Harbour News.

For Brown, failure was never an option as the ambitious teen understands the value of hard work being manifested around her all her life. This is self-evident with both parents migrating to the United States to provide a better life for the family. In her parents absence she is raised by her grandmother though in her words mom and dad are still very much involved in her upbringing.

“My parents are very proud as they work hard to send me to school,” said the St Elizabeth in a telephone interview. “My father is a truck driver while my mother does housekeeping and she always reminds me how important education is. In fact, she along with my aunt and grandmother are my role models because all the women in my family are hard-working go-getters. They are always trying, always innovating and they always push me to do my best.”

Education she emphasizes will be her ticket to success. Coming from a district which she describes as having “lots of bush”, employment or economic opportunities are few and far between. Therefore she had no choice but to buckle down and focus on her studies. If connectivity caused her to miss a class during the Covid pandemic, she employs contingency strategies so as not to be at a disadvantage. “I’m naturally inquisitive and tend to ask a lot of questions so I kept asking my teachers questions until I caught on and understood my assignments,” she said.

Currently Brown is enjoying lower Sixth Form where she is doing the sciences plus communication studies and integrated mathematics. When not hunched over a textbook, she takes a breather to watch a movie or do some gaming to relax. As to her future career, it will definitely be in the medical field as she has dreams of one day becoming a surgeon. Her current success she added also has a huge positive impact on her school and will hopefully facilitate those in and around the community recognising that while it may not seem as prestigious as some of the more well-known schools in St. Elizabeth, it is definitely now a viable academic contender and an institution where children can prosper academically, socially and spiritually.

“This means a lot to my school as they had been working hard to elevate the status of the school and make B.B. Coke the school of choice,” Brown said.

For Principal Evadney Ledgister, Brown’s success is another feather in the school’s hat because B.B. Coke is not being a traditional high school in its truest sense and Brown’s inspiring achievement, demonstrates how much their teachers have facilitated a more comprehensive learning platform.

“We have other students who have passed and also done very well. However, D’Jhane‘s success is significant because it is the first time that a single student has passed all three pure science subjects with such distinction,” the B.B. Coke principal tells Old Harbour News. “What also makes it so special is that this year, the science grades across the region are rather low. It went down due to Covid so her accomplishment speaks to her overall commitment, discipline and dedication; plus it brings out the confidence I have in our teachers’ ability to impart knowledge even in trying conditions.”

According to Ledgister, anyone that did well academically during the last two years should be applauded as these students were at a distinct disadvantage going into those hard and pressuring external examinations.

“Her success is huge, especially in the recent Covid-19 setting,” she said. “Her batch would be the ones who suffered the most as they dropped out of face-to-face classes from Grade 9, most of Grade 10 and had about four months of Grade 11 back from a virtual sitting. You also have to realise that CXC examinations were not modified for Covid and for a student to do 10 subjects in one sitting with three sciences and to perform in that manner, is truly a great accomplishment.”

Ledgister also shared that the science programme at B.B. Coke started recently in 2016. With a school population of approximately 1,100 students who now are all on a single shift and pursuing more traditional subject areas and courses, it has proven laborious at times. However, the school which was established in 1971, is up for the challenge of showcasing why they are not only competitive but will no longer be relegated to the bottom of the academic pile neither in prestige nor performance.

“We have had some level of change in public and parental perception of the school but I still want more people to see us as a school that is competitive based on our broad-based curriculum. We also do a lot of practical based subjects so once they have the discipline, any students can achieve whatsoever they desire,” she tells me.

At times the principal said she had to contend with some parents’ perception of the school in that some are reluctant to pay fees and generally not invest in their child the way they would if the child was attending Hampton or Munroe. 

“The school definitely needs financing and an auditorium is at the top of our list. This as well as more science labs are needed as the two currently in use are the same two from when the school was originally built, though Digicel Foundation updated them in recent years,” she said. “I also want parents to feel proud that their child is a B.B. Coke student or graduate which is why I also want our past students to invest more in their alma mater and hold their head high when they remember that partnership is important; hence it is a part of the school’s motto that states ‘Together we build’”.