Jun 11, 2019

P.S.E.’s Brightest in Belize City Share How They Did It

We also visited a few schools in Belize City today to speak with students who place on the top twenty-five list. As we reported on Monday night, the top performing student in the Belize District who also placed second is Ann Elyse Fleser Perdue of La Isla Bonita Elementary in San Pedro. Joining Perdue on the list as top performing students in the Belize District are two students from Hummingbird Elementary; three from Bernice York Institute; two from Holy Redeemer; and one student each from Saint Joseph Primary, Horizon Academy, All Saints Anglican and Crooked Tree Government School. We spoke with several of the students in the city and they shared their excitement about their accomplishment, as well as what it took for them to rank in the top twenty-five.

 

Leah Martinez, P.S.E. Top 25, Hummingbird Elementary

“I feel very excited. I am proud of myself that I did so well and I am sure that my parents are proud of me and they are happy for me. Overall, I am just very excited about the results because I spent most of my time studying, going over some of the PSE past tests and I feel very excited and I am proud of myself for the results.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Talk to us about some of the sacrifices you had to make to put in the time to study for the P.S.E.?”

 

Leah Martinez

“Some sacrifices I made were to put aside some of my electronics and also I used to play volleyball and I took off this year to focus on my academics and focus on the P.S.E to make sure I did good  and I got a good grade. “

 

Kai Badillo, P.S.E. Top 25, Bernice York Institute

“It was shocking. It was fun. My heart was racing. I was speechless.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Did you set out to get a particular grade?”

 

Kai Badillo

“Of course I was aiming for first but I didn’t get that but I am happy what the grade I got.”

 

Augusto Quinto, P.S.E. Top 25, Bernice York Institute

“I wasn’t sure how I did overall. I was nervous. It was more nerve wracking waiting for the results than taking the exam for me.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“What advice do you give to other students for them to prepare for P.S.E. next year?”

 

Augusto Quinto

“To pay keen attention in class because not everything you get for homework they teach in class; so paying keen attention in class helped me a lot.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“What does it take to win a spot in the top twenty-five?”

 

Stacie Gonzalez, P.S.E. Top 25, Bernice York Institute

“Long nights of studying. I like to manage my sleep with my play so that I don’t overpower myself with studying.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Any plans on how you are going to celebrate this big accomplishment with your family?”

 

Stacie Gonzalez

“Oh yes! Last night I went to Riverside Tavern with my aunt and uncle and later today I am going to eat some food with my grandfather.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“What did it take for you to get this grade? What all you had to do?”

 

Devyon Lozano, P.S.E. Top 25, Holy Redeemer Primary RC Primary

“Lotta mock P.S.E. When I go home, I have like stacks of P.S.E to do when I get home but now that that is over I can relax a bit and then start to study for high school.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“How did you find the exams – what was easy or what was a bit challenging?”

 

Devyon Lozano

“The Math was easy. I feel like the Math P.S.E was the easiest I ever did compared to the mock P.S.E.s”

 

Jaile Estell, P.S.E. Top 25. Holy Redeemer RC Primary

“I wouldn’t say it was easy per se but if you were well prepared like our school, you would have done well.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“What all did you have to do at school and at home to prepare?”

 

Jaile Estell

“Well, our teachers provided extra classes for us and they drilled us every day. I also had extra classes at home so I had different tutors and they would prepare me and drill me and so on.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Talk to me about the role of your parents – how involved were they?”

 

Jaile Estell

“They were very supportive. They were with me every step of the way and they studied with me. They encouraged me to do my best.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Did you expect to place so high?”

 

Kamryn Rogers, P.S.E. Top 25, All Saints Primary School

“Not really, no.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“Tell me what you had to do to get this good grade?”

 

Kamryn Rogers

“I was a bit nervous so I Studied every night after school, during classes and between breaks. I feel like I deserve it but I honestly didn’t expect to do so well.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“How did you manage to have personal time; spend time with your friends or you spent all the time studying?”

 

Kamryn Rogers

“I tried to spend time with my friends but mostly this year was about studying and working very hard.”

 

Andrea Polanco

“So, you made a sacrifice and it paid off?”

 

Kamryn Rogers

“Yes! It did.”