Old Harbour High’s Othneil McCalla driven by the need to succeed after passing 15 subjects

As he enters the final few months as a student at Old Harbour High, the 19-year-old will surely leave his own mark at 33 South Street, Old Harbour where he obtained 15 subjects – 10 at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and five at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

In the last series of exams – CAPE Unit I – McCalla attained grade one in Chemistry and grade two in Biology, Integrated Mathematics, Communication Studies and Physics. Such excellence made McCalla the top performing male student in CAPE at Old Harbour High in 2021, while he was ranked 32nd in Jamaica in Integrated Mathematics.

"I felt elated and shock because it wasn't a goal of mine. My goal was to pass all my subjects, which I did; so it's kind of a win-win situation for me," McCalla said in an interview with Old Harbour News. 

McCalla, a resident of Church Pen Housing Scheme, has bigger dreams ahead. He aspires to become an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon, which will make all his current success inside the classroom worthwhile.

While on this journey the high school prefect has had bitter moments. Many saw his life and think it has been all sunshine and rainbows. But there were plenty challenges amidst those moments of celebration that the Marlie Mount Primary past student uses as stepping stones to get ahead.

"I have many struggles which I will not state due to personal reasons but what I can say is that my great grandmother passed away. Another struggle, very common to most students, is internet connectivity and device problems," McCalla said.

"In order to stay focus on school with these struggles or any struggle at all I have to know is what I want and that is success. The need to be successful drives me. But sometimes that alone can't help keep me to stay focus and this is where close friends and relatives comes in,” he added. 

“They give me words of encouragement and motivation from time to time. To my mother Petra Ellis, my brother Jameel, cousins, aunts, uncles and my closest friend Shamoi Brown thank you for always supporting me. For you to say something supportive and to encourage someone it will only take you a second or two but for them those words of encouragement could last a life time."

This kind of unwavering support from his most trusted confidants served as fuel to a fire burning within the sixth former.

"Some things that keep me motivated and to continue doing my best are the continuous support from family and friends,” he says “the struggles I see my mother faced as a single parent, my goals and aspirations I have for myself and individuals who are genuinely happy for me and want to see me succeed."

And to his peers facing difficult situations, McCalla urges them not to give up on their dreams, but pursue them to the very end.

The Grade 13 student says "my advice to anyone who is struggling and still trying to be successful in anything you want to achieve, you can do it no matter the obstacles in your path. The sky is the limit. Prayer and hard work conquers all."