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Tivoli exhales.........
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
"I did it for the people of Tivoli," declared soft-spoken 18-year-old St Hugh's student, Rashae Lewis, who was successful in nine subjects in the CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
And surely, the accomplishment of the diminutive teenager has given the people of Tivoli Gardens much to cheer about for the last two days.
The people of the community, including her peers, made no bones about the fact that she was the latest bright spark to emerge in the community that is putting the dark, dismal days behind it.
In the midst of the party-like atmosphere, Rashae's mother, Pauline Brown, was clearly fond of saying "nine out of nine".
She humbly poured out heartfelt appreciation for her daughter's success as she spoke with The Gleaner.
"Rashae passed nine subjects out of nine," gushed Brown. "I am so proud of her, so proud. By the help of Almighty God she has come through successfully in every thing that she has done.
Rashae copped three Is, four IIs and two IIIs - no simple feat in light of the fact that she sat the examinations in the midst of the tumult in western Kingston.
Rashae got distinctions in mathematics, English, and social studies.
Then, her community was at the centre of a major operation by the State to capture reputed area don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Criminals in the area barricaded the community to keep the military and the police away from Dudus. The resulting stand-off led to the death of more than 70 persons and the detention of hundreds of young men.
Children, particularly those sitting exams, were inconvenienced, as many had to sit exams away from their home schools, and in some cases, with the sound of gunfire in their ears.
"I kept strong and I did it for them (Tivoli Gardens). I am here to show them that I can do it, and good things come from Tivoli Gardens," asserted Rashae.
"And the way people talk about us as if we are nobody, I wanted to show them that yes, we are somebody, and we are just like people in Cherry Gardens, and we can be as successful as they are."
Cherry Gardens, unlike Tivoli Gardens, is one of the more affluent areas which is nestled in the hills of upper St Andrew in the Corporate Area.
Tandricka Livermore, a fifth-form student at Alpha High School, was ecstatic about her friend's achievement.
"I am proud of her because she is from Tivoli, and people on the outside, especially in the residential areas, don't think there are good people from Tivoli, and I am glad for her. She went out and did her exams during the west Kingston unrest and I am very proud of her."
Inspiration
Thirteen-year-old Meadowbrook High School student Carlos Gayle openly declared that Rashae is his inspiration.
"I would like to do what she has done," he said shyly.
Meanwhile, Brown said her daughter, who is the 'baby' in the family, got strong support from her father, George Lewis, who lives in the United States, her two older brothers, ages 34 and 29, as well as her church family.
Brown, an ancillary worker at the Tivoli Gardens High School, said she also received good support from her colleagues.
"I sought the assistance over at Tivoli Gardens High School and the teachers have guided me and my daughter well," the proud mom explained.
Rashae, who harbours ambitions of pursuing law, said she would be moving on to sixth form as she presses forward towards achieving her dreams.
"I did it for the people of Tivoli," declared soft-spoken 18-year-old St Hugh's student, Rashae Lewis, who was successful in nine subjects in the CXC Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
And surely, the accomplishment of the diminutive teenager has given the people of Tivoli Gardens much to cheer about for the last two days.
The people of the community, including her peers, made no bones about the fact that she was the latest bright spark to emerge in the community that is putting the dark, dismal days behind it.
In the midst of the party-like atmosphere, Rashae's mother, Pauline Brown, was clearly fond of saying "nine out of nine".
She humbly poured out heartfelt appreciation for her daughter's success as she spoke with The Gleaner.
"Rashae passed nine subjects out of nine," gushed Brown. "I am so proud of her, so proud. By the help of Almighty God she has come through successfully in every thing that she has done.
Rashae copped three Is, four IIs and two IIIs - no simple feat in light of the fact that she sat the examinations in the midst of the tumult in western Kingston.
Rashae got distinctions in mathematics, English, and social studies.
Then, her community was at the centre of a major operation by the State to capture reputed area don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.
Criminals in the area barricaded the community to keep the military and the police away from Dudus. The resulting stand-off led to the death of more than 70 persons and the detention of hundreds of young men.
Children, particularly those sitting exams, were inconvenienced, as many had to sit exams away from their home schools, and in some cases, with the sound of gunfire in their ears.
"I kept strong and I did it for them (Tivoli Gardens). I am here to show them that I can do it, and good things come from Tivoli Gardens," asserted Rashae.
"And the way people talk about us as if we are nobody, I wanted to show them that yes, we are somebody, and we are just like people in Cherry Gardens, and we can be as successful as they are."
Cherry Gardens, unlike Tivoli Gardens, is one of the more affluent areas which is nestled in the hills of upper St Andrew in the Corporate Area.
Tandricka Livermore, a fifth-form student at Alpha High School, was ecstatic about her friend's achievement.
"I am proud of her because she is from Tivoli, and people on the outside, especially in the residential areas, don't think there are good people from Tivoli, and I am glad for her. She went out and did her exams during the west Kingston unrest and I am very proud of her."
Inspiration
Thirteen-year-old Meadowbrook High School student Carlos Gayle openly declared that Rashae is his inspiration.
"I would like to do what she has done," he said shyly.
Meanwhile, Brown said her daughter, who is the 'baby' in the family, got strong support from her father, George Lewis, who lives in the United States, her two older brothers, ages 34 and 29, as well as her church family.
Brown, an ancillary worker at the Tivoli Gardens High School, said she also received good support from her colleagues.
"I sought the assistance over at Tivoli Gardens High School and the teachers have guided me and my daughter well," the proud mom explained.
Rashae, who harbours ambitions of pursuing law, said she would be moving on to sixth form as she presses forward towards achieving her dreams.