I‘ve known her as Emma from her early childhood days when her grandmother, a master mat maker, made me a beautiful, scallop-edged straw mat, 8-foot in diameter, still intact today —still much admired. I’d promised Emma about a month or so ago to introduce her and her art to the public, so impressed was I with her pieces recently shared with me. However, I’m afraid that today her fine artistic talent will have no choice but to share the stage with her equally outstanding academic achievement coming to my attention mere days ago when CXC released the latest CSEC results and a proud grandmother telephoned to give me the news: Adelia Emma Henry, better known as Emma, had just got word that she obtained her eight subjects, all at Grade One level, and that at age 15.
The 15-year-old, who hails from the community of Caféiere in Choiseul, attended the Dugard Combined School, the VFCSS, and is currently a student at its A-level Division. The youngest in her group, Emma is certain she wants to take Biology at Advanced level, it being her favourite subject. She has begun to teach herself chemistry in her spare time, for though she did not write that subject at CSEC, she wants to become acquainted with it, being drawn to a career which involves biology and/or chemistry. She can see herself as a future biologist, biochemist, pharmacologist or microbiologist.
I asked Emma about her CSEC teachers at the VFCSS. She reported that she had a good relationship with all of her teachers, and was glad of that. “My mother always told me that I messaged my Information Technology teacher, Mr Ragnauth, much too late in the evening when I needed some clarification or another. But he always responded promptly to my emails, no matter the time.” Then there was Miss Octave her math teacher who, “though most times had only two of us in her class, was always present to ensure she prepared us for our exams.” Miss Turney, a retired teacher, was an asset in guiding her through her Social Studies SBA and teaching her how to approach the essays. Not least was Miss Fessal, always available to assist with her French.
So, valuable teachers aside, were there other contributing factors to her fine performance? Our star student was again happy to unselfishly share her useful list with those coming after her across the island and throughout the region: “Textbooks, of course, YouTube videos, writing notes, live Caribbean classes, attending every online class from my school, study groups with my friends and lots of past paper practice.” And I say, smart list, very smart young lady!
What about hobbies? Any time at all for those? “Certainly. Though currently focused on my CAPE studies, I still enjoy nail art, drawing and music. And I make sure to find time for them. I started drawing in 2016, when I was ten. I use pencils and crayons (Prismacolor, Derwent and Arteza products). I engage in art both for the love of it and as a form of stress release when I feel overwhelmed by my studies.”
A thoughtful Emma was insistent that she first give thanks to God, before mentioning family members who in one way or another have played significant roles in her life: Her parents Delia Peters & Adrian Henry; grandparents Catherine and Juliton Jn.Baptiste; her older sister Cordelia Henry (no slouch herself, having come in 6th place in the Common Entrance exam of 2013, and most recently attaining 6 Grade Ones and 2 Grade Twos at CAPE, in the process coming in the first 10 regionally and making it onto their regional merit list in Law and History); Aunt and uncles Tacina and Kinetus Francis, and Thomas Peters, not forgetting cousin Marquez Francis.
And a very grateful Emma reserved her biggest thank-you for “my mother, who ensured that I had all the CSEC resources that she was able to obtain, both digital and print; who assisted me with my studies, stayed up with me while I studied and completed assignments late at night, encouraged me always and was my main source of motivation. She believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. She consoled me when I cried and encouraged me to take breaks and relax.”
Emma wasn’t done. “I would also like to thank the student tutors and teachers from across the region for dedicating their time and effort to ensure that all Caribbean students had access to quality online education.” How useful, I thought, definitely good news going forward for students around the Caribbean. With all bases covered by the clearly gifted young subject of this profile, I wondered what her classmates—usually the harshest of critics— might think of Miss Emma. Their characterisations were loud and clear, and something to be proud of: helpful, trustworthy, empathetic, honest. Now, what more could anyone, a shining 15-year-old included, possibly ask for? Seems to me the world’s her oyster if she’ll have it. Oh, and about that artwork of hers. Need I say more? You be the judge. You can view lots more of Emma, the artist, on her Instagram account: emz-art758.
