A Bright Mind With A Bright Future

Wed, Nov 23rd 2011, 09:47 AM

Most people have preconceived notions of pre-teens -- how they act and think -- but when you meet 12-year-old St. John's College eight grader, Paige Davis, you have to throw those misconceptions out the window.  Actually, that's probably what the Wendy's and Coca-Cola "Bright Minds, Bright Futures" Scholarship Program coordinators had to do when they reviewed her application, and interviewed her for one of three, six-year scholarships that they offer to sixth grade public school students in New Providence for high school study in the private school sector.  

Paige's assertiveness, confidence and certainty in knowing what career path she would take gave her the edge, according to Wendy's human resources manager, Joy Dean.

The former Garvin Tynes Primary School student, now an eighth grade student at St. John's College, without hesitation will tell you that she wants to be an audiologist and an award-winning author.  And she's smart to boot.  She had to be in the first instance, and she has to maintain a grade point average of at least 75 percent (3.00) to keep her scholarship.

Without the Wendy's and Coca-Cola scholarship, Paige says her parents would not have been able to afford her a private school education.  When she received the news that she was one of the chosen few, she was ecstatic.

In her first year she maintained a GPA of 90 percent (a 3.60) and finished with the second highest overall grade in her seventh grade class.  (The competitive young lady really wanted the number one spot, but says she settled for what she got.  She also told the person who claimed the top spot that she would be first in their eighth grade year).

Then tragedy "knocked at the door" of the young lady's promising future.  It was during her school's Easter break in May, during a shopping excursion to the United States with her family that she started feeling weary.  She recalled not finding any joy in going to the malls to shop, and just wanting to sleep -- for hours on end.

On the first day back to school, after the break, her skirt did not fit.  Her stomach had bloated.  Her mother, Ellerie Seymour, called the school informing them of her daughter's dilemma.  They purchased a new skirt for her for the next day.  By then, Paige felt even worse. She finally sought medical help.  It took a couple of doctor visits before she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged, and it cannot pump blood effectively).  It is a form of heart disease.

The diagnosis landed the Wendy's and Coca-Cola scholar in hospital for six weeks initially.  She was outfitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a small battery-powered electrical impulse generator that is implanted in patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular tachycardia.  The device is programmed to detect cardiac arrhythmia and correct it by delivering a jolt of electricity.  Paige ended up missing her entire third semester.   She tried to attend tutoring sessions while hospitalized, but was put on strict bed rest by her doctors.  

She was not even allowed to walk.  Her final grade for the final semester of her seventh grade year was based on two weeks of work.   She was graded at high 80s, low 90s.  She officially returned to the classroom in September to start her eighth grade year.  And to live up to the promise to outdo the student that outdid her last year for the number one spot.

"I'm doing good," said Paige who averaged her progress report grades in October and worked it out to a 90.33 percent.  "School is okay, even though I still get tired walking up the stairs and I can't do physical education right now." (She doesn't miss it anyway).

Getting back into the "swing of the classroom" wasn't difficult for her at all.  The hardest thing she said was adjusting to the fact that rumors had circulated that she'd had a heart transplant and people started looking at her funny because they did not know what had really happened.

"After I explained, we started laughing and talking and they said ain't nothing wrong with me, I'm still crazy."

Paige describes herself as an outgoing young lady with a sense of humor who likes to laugh.  If she finds a friend sad or crying, they can always count on her to make them laugh.

And her teachers do not treat her any differently.  They still expect the best from her.

"People must know that whatever they do now will affect them in the future.  If they goof around now in school, they won't be able to get a good job."

She's proving to be an inspiration to her peers, which her friend Elizabeth has told her.

"Sometimes I'd get so tired in school that I'd have to lie down.  Elizabeth said she couldn't imagine that.  She said she wouldn't come to school, and she couldn't imagine waking up everyday knowing she had something inside of her, and that anything could happen at any minute."

Paige's English Language teacher, Cherrilene Baxter-Dennis concurs.  She says the pre-teen's win-win personality inspite of her health problems motivates her.
"She does not allow [her health condition] to inhibit her in whatever she has to do -- especially where her education is concerned. She is an 'A' student.  What she doesn't understand, she seeks clarity, and she faces challenges.  If she gets a low grade in one of the units of work, she just doesn't sit and accept.  She would come to the teacher, seek clarity, and move on."

Baxter-Dennis says that it's not just Paige's academic excellence that makes her shine, but her attitude as well.  She says Paige always has a smile and never sulks, and reaches out to people, even in a crisis.

The educator of 44 years who has only been teaching Paige for a little over two months said in all of her years teaching, she has only come across one other student like Paige.

"When I would cringe in pain ... I can't describe it ... and she's so much fun, she would come and hug you.  And when you see Paige in the morning, it's always 'Good morning, Ms. Baxter-Dennis, how are you today?'  Even if you are gloomy, she changes that gloom.  She is a natural leader.  Speaking with one or two of her teachers, they have been commenting on her positive attitude, especially her Math teacher.  He would say she is the smartest in his Math class."

Even though it's Baxter-Dennis' first year teaching Paige, she said she knew about the young lady before she stepped foot in her classroom because teachers had been talking about her at the seventh grade level in reference to her grades which they said were excellent.

"Paige is known throughout St. John's as a positive person -- but she is not positive in a bragging way.  She is a quiet child, and it's when you get to know her and start interacting with her, that you recognize her quality."

While Paige says English and French are her favorite subjects, she admits to having a competitive streak in whatever she's doing as she wants to do it well.  But she doesn't believe she's "over the top".

Paige is currently in the final round of internal spelling bee championships at her school, and hopes of coming out in the top two from the 10 finalists to represent St. John's College at the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) spelling bee.

Her story is one that makes Wendy's and Coca-Cola proud to count her as one of their scholarship recipients.

"Paige continues to show the world that absolutely nothing will hold her back from achieving the goals she's set for herself," said marketing manager, Yolanda Pawar.  "Even in the face of adversity, she exemplifies a level of courage, humility and faith well beyond her years.  Paige not only pulled through this difficult time, but she maintained her exceptionally high academic standard.  It's her resilience and commitment to give her very best, regardless of the circumstances that sets Paige apart.  With a new lease on life and an even stronger drive to press on, this unstoppable young lady inspires us all to challenge ourselves, and approach life with renewed hope and a positive attitude."

The Wendy's and Coca-Cola "Bright Minds, Bright Futures" Scholarship Program of which Paige is currently a member, started in 1997.  Yearly, four six-year scholarships are offered to sixth grade public school students.  Three of the scholarships are given to New Providence students, and one to a Grand Bahamian student.  Between $28,000 and $30,000 per child is invested through the scholarship fund.

Educationally, Paige is as strong as she's ever been, but since her diagnosis and surgery, she has had to make a few adjustments in her life.  She played tennis last year, but had to stop.  And she can't eat a lot of fatty, or salty foods -- definitely not good news to a pre-teen.

"I only eat certain foods, and the foods they took away from me were the only foods I eat ... Big Macs, French fries, double stack at Wendy's, which costs $3.99 and you get the sandwich, fries, the drink and a junior frosty."

Now that she's doing better, they've allowed her to have some salt in her diet, and she indulges from time-to-time in her all-time favorite of macaroni and cheese.
As the former Garvin Tynes Primary School head girl and Primary School Student of the Year semi-finalist looks to her future, she envisions one that is bright, because she knows she will be successful.

The youngster also has a life outside of school.  She writes skits, and has acted in plays written, produced and directed by her uncle -- Clarence Rolle.  She had a minor role of an ogre in "Devil on the Cross," which she described as fun because she got to ride on a man's back.

She also has a practical side as well.  The defibrillator that's implanted in her chest cost cost a pretty penny -- a steak-out was held to raise money to help defray her medical expenses.  She could have simply picked up a plate of food for herself, but knowing what the money was for, she dug into her pocket and paid for her plate.

And like a true sister, while she was hospitalized for weeks, she says she missed home, including her brothers, Travon, Elron and Roger Seymour, even though she didn't tell them. (Sorry Paige, your secret's out).  An avid reader she also read so many books while in hospital that she lost count.

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