11-y-o Shanaya Wong secures scholarship and spot at St. Jago High

At the same time, she is among 46 students across the island to receive scholarship from Jamaica Energy Partners for her outstanding academic achievement. 

Shanaya, who has a deep love for Mathematics, described the PEP exams as both challenging and rewarding. “At first I was shocked because I was just sitting there thinking that the top performer was someone else, but it came out to be me,” she said cheerfully. She particularly enjoyed the Performance Tasks, which allowed her to engage with her favourite subject in a practical way. However, she admitted that the multiple-choice sections were more difficult. “I don’t like them,” she said with a laugh. 

Her success was no accident. Shanaya employed disciplined study strategies, including practicing with past papers via YouTube tutorials. “I would work the questions out before the person on the video and my mom was always there to assist me with the parts that I don’t understand,” she said, while crediting other members of the family for their assistance as well. “My teacher Mrs. Morris-Adams is a big help,” she also acknowledged. “She keeps online classes; sometimes they go over late at night. In the morning before school begins she keeps little class sessions and she doesn’t take money to do so, she does it out of the goodness of her heart.” 

A key motivator for Shanaya was her friend and former schoolmate, Kaycian Bell, last year’s top PEP performer, now at St. Andrew High School for Girls. “She inspired me to work hard for my goals,” Shanaya said. 

Her mother, Omeisha Banton, beamed with pride as she recounted her daughter’s journey. “I was very happy and excited because I know that there were other students who have done very well, and for Shanaya to come out on top knowing that she is younger than her classmates was truly special,” Banton told Old Harbour News. She explained that Shanaya started school a year early and was originally supposed to be in grade five, making her accomplishment even more impressive. Despite occasional doubts, Shanaya never used her age as an excuse. 

Banton emphasized the importance of a strong support system, including faith, family, and dedicated mentors. “We are a praying family. We always encourage Shanaya to pray and work hard because we don’t believe in handouts and we always instill respect and good conduct in her,” she said. She also praised Shanaya’s father, Odaine Wong, and her teacher, Mrs. Adams, for their instrumental roles in her success. 

Reflecting on her daughter’s early years, Banton recalled noticing Shanaya’s advanced abilities at just two years old. She could spell words and recited her ABCs without formal teaching. Despite initial concerns about her age, Shanaya excelled at Alexander Basic School, quickly rising to the top of her class. 

With a passion for helping others, the aspiring nurse is focused on maintaining excellence in her new chapter and already has her sights set on sitting several CSEC subjects by ninth grade with the aim of earning grade ones across the board.  In addition to her academic goals, Shanaya hopes to represent the school in netball, making her an invaluable asset already to the Monk Street institution renowned for its strong sporting and academic prowess. 

Banton also offered valuable advice to future PEP candidates and their parents. She emphasized the importance of practicing with past papers. “One of the things I realized that really helps students is going through the past papers online because the questions are structured similarly,” she explained. “When you prepare that way, it gives you a mental advantage, so it won’t be the first time you’re encountering difficult questions. Getting a feel for the exam ahead of time helps students feel more confident and less surprised on the actual day.”

She also praised the dedication and values upheld by the staff at Old Harbour Bay Primary School, describing the teachers as outstanding and deeply committed. “I believe the teachers at Old Harbour Bay Primary are doing an exceptional job,” she said. “Sometimes Shanaya’s teacher calls me so often I have to wonder if she doesn’t have her own family to tend to; that level of interest speaks volumes.” 

She further expressed her belief that the school is yet to receive the recognition it truly deserves, possibly due to negative perceptions of the community. “But the school is wonderful and exceptional,” she concluded.