From tears to triumph

Xia Williams’ journey to academic excellence

A heartwarming tale of dedication, hard work, and unwavering support is the success story of JN Scholar, Xia Williams. Her academic achievements have left her family beaming with pride.

Her mother, Nadine Chambers, reflects on the journey, sharing not just the glowing results, but the challenges, tears, and perseverance that paved the way. From the very beginning, this determined student showcased her ‘perfectionist’ tendencies.

“One of my favourite stories,” her mother recounted with a smile, “is when she was learning to write the letter ‘a’. She didn’t make a perfect circle, and the stick didn’t quite attach to the zero, and she bawled her eyes out.”

This drive for excellence has been a constant trait, pushing her to always strive for the best. Despite her mother’s gentle reminders that “mistakes are opportunities to learn”, Xia’s determination to get it right has been unshakeable.

Her hard work paid off recently with outstanding results in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams. She received an overall score of 356.4 out of 400 in the PEP exams and was placed at her school of choice, Titchfield High School in Portland, the alma mater of both her parents.

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But her mother admitted, “You always have it in the back of your mind ... some people have exam jitters.” Despite the anxiety, she remained confident in her daughter’s abilities. “I expected good results, even if they weren’t excellent.”

What followed was beyond anyone’s expectations. The student not only excelled in her PEP exams, but she also earned three scholarships – one from her former school, Port Antonio Primary, another from a credit union, and a prestigious award from the JN Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Jamaica National Group.

At her graduation, Xia received 10 awards, including the Top Female Achiever title and subject awards in mathematics, science, Spanish, and language arts. “She couldn’t sit down,” her mother recalled with awe, describing the moment when her daughter kept returning to the stage. “At one point, someone said, ‘Just stand up in the aisle and don’t sit down.’”

This stellar performance was no accident. Her mother outlined the system that supported her daughter’s success: “Children need consistency. When she got home from school, she knew to rest, then review her work. I didn’t make it heavy; just light reviewing to reinforce what was learnt.”

This method helped commit the lessons to long-term memory, easing exam preparation. But beyond structure, Ms Chambers emphasised her daughter’s innate drive. “To be honest, she’s very accountable. She wants it, so she goes after it. She doesn’t like failure.”

Her father, Christopher Williams, knew his daughter was special as at just two years old she was picking out her outfits. “So, from early it was evident that she was a go-getter,” he smiled with pride. “I want the world to know who Xia Williams is and years from now she will be hailed as one of the greatest Jamaican scholars, making all Jamaicans proud all over the globe,” he said.

Williams’ advice to parents are to give their children emotional support, which he said are sometimes overlooked.

“Children these days need to feel that their parents are behind them physically and financially, but also going through the tough times with them emotionally. Share with them and allow them to share with you,” he said.

For Xia’s Grade-6 teacher, Yanique Campbell-Brown, Xia’s performance in the PEP exams was no surprise. “Xia is a bright and motivated student who has consistently worked hard to achieve her dreams. Her commitment to excellence is evident in everything that she does, from academics to extracurricular activities,” she said.

Campbell-Brown pointed out that Xia’s participation in the debating club helped to hone her critical thinking and public speaking skills and she emerged as a confident and persuasive speaker.

“Xia served as a role model for her peers. She was always ready to lend a helping hand, encouraged others and maintained a positive classroom atmosphere,” she said.

For the budding entrepreneur, Xia said her preparation involved following a timetable for study. She credits her success to the hard work and guidance of her teachers. Her advice to other students is to be consistent.

“Just work hard and don’t get distracted with the other things that are going around you. If you work hard, you can achieve your goals,” she said.

Chambers said the journey wasn’t without its challenges. There were nights when assignments brought her daughter to tears, but she persevered. “She’d be bawling her eyes out, but she’d still be doing the work. I stayed up with her late sometimes to make sure she finished.” This unwavering support, paired with her daughter’s determination, made all the difference.

Reflecting on her role as a parent, Chambers offered this advice to others. “You have to give your children time, not just for scolding, but to talk and listen. They may have issues you don’t know about, but once they’re in a relaxed environment, they’ll open up.”

In her experience, supporting a child, even when they’re not performing at their best, is crucial. “Even if you don’t see the results now, the reinforcement will make a difference eventually.”

For Chambers, the journey of supporting her daughter has been as fulfilling as the achievements themselves. And with a system of love, consistency, and determination, the sky’s the limit for this young scholar.