President meets top A-Level scorers |31 July 2015

Twelve out of 15 students who have scored top grades at Advanced Level (A-Levels) were yesterday received by President James Michel at State House.

President Michel congratulated them on their hard work and good grades and encouraged them to continue to study hard in their chosen fields of study at university level so that they can succeed in their careers.

All of them have scored top grades in their examinations at the state-owned School of Advanced Level Studies (Sals) and privately owned Independent School.

A total of 14 Seychellois students in the two schools achieved at least 3 ‘A’ grades in their A-Level results, with some achieving even 4 ‘A’s. Samuel Mancienne-Pool scored four A*s while Abirami Pugazhendi scored three A*s and one ‘A’.

Together they are a group of one of the best performing students of the country’s academic records achieved in the last ten years.

Later this year the A-Level graduates will be leaving the country for further studies at universities abroad on government scholarships in areas such as law, psychology, aviation, medicine, physics, economics, business management, engineering, and petroleum engineering. One student is pursuing her studies independently.

"I am very proud of you, I believe in you, in the youth, as you are the future of our country. You must never allow anyone to steal your dreams… you must dream big and be determined to be attentive to your studies and gain the knowledge and skills so that you can contribute to the development of your country and be what you want to be. Make your parents, your friends and your country proud. I congratulate you for what you have achieved and hope that you will take the opportunity you have before you to become professionals and to come back to share your knowledge as your country needs you,” said President Michel to the students in their meeting.

The students spoke to the President about their plans for their studies and their careers. They asked him questions about his youth, dreams and career, and he told them about his challenging path and the lack of education in Seychelles at the time.

He said his tough experiences as a child from a poor family who did not have access to higher education had inspired him to ensure that all Seychellois children should get a chance to have a good education, and that his time as a minister for education was spent working to democratise education and make it free for all children.

The students said they were honoured to have been received and personally congratulated by the President himself.

The students are at present helping out teaching at secondary schools around the country until they leave for their studies.

Jean-Luc Adrienne who scored A* in sociology, ‘A’ in law and ‘A’ in the French language said it was an honour to be received and congratulated personally by the head of state.

“The President congratulated us and shared his dreams with us and this has inspired us to realise our own dreams,” Jean-Luc said.

He admitted that the two years of study has not been easy because as a young person he likes to take part in activities young people enjoy.

“First I had to organise myself and know what the priorities in my life were so as to ensure I had the proper balance between my studies and time to do things young people do and I am happy that I have succeeded,” Jean-Luc said.

He is looking forward to leave Seychelles soon on a three-year course to study law at a university in the UK.

Marianna Eulentin scored ‘A’s in chemistry, psychology and biology and she also said that it is only through hard work, lots of sacrifices and a lot of studying that have resulted in such good grades.

“Studies were really tough but if you are determined, you know what you want  and you always ask the lecturers for clarifications when there are things you do not understand you will succeed,” Marianna said.

Marianna is keen to train and become a criminal psychologist in the police department, working more specifically with rape victims, domestic violence survivors and families of murder victims.

Marianna welcomed the opportunity to meet the President.

“He congratulated us on our good grades and he shared with us the dreams he had and how he worked to achieve them,” Marianna added.

For her part Nissa Payet, who also scored ‘A’s in law, economics and business studies, believes that one has to know what one wants and then work hard to get it. 

While studying for her IGCSE Nissa said she faced some challenges and decided to address them head on when she started studying for her A-levels.

“While I enjoyed taking part in youth activities I also know that good things do not come easy so I set my priorities, devoted my time to my studies and I studied hard,” Nissa said.   

Nissa, who clinched the President’s Cup rewarding the most outstanding performer at Sals for last year, said when she comes back she would be a lawyer. But she also has great dreams for her future.

“I want to continue being involved in youth programmes, join the Young Leaders Programme and why not join politics later and maybe become the first female president, who knows? With God all is possible,” Nissa said.