For most kids a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.60 is something to "crow" about, but for 15-year-old Selandia Toote, it's a source of embarrassment. Excellence to her means a grade point average that is above the 3.80 mark.
"I think my failure to get above my 3.80 mark is due to my procrastination and not completing my work as well as I should have last semester," said the Queen's College 10th grade student. "It also didn't help that I was transitioning to high school and the work is harder and there are more demands. This is the time I should have been more focused than ever, but I wasn't, so there is no excuse for not achieving above a 3.80 like I usually do. I am working harder to just stay on track and do what I know I should be doing this time around."
Toote is now making the adjustment, and now aspires to not settle for less than the best and has her sights set on achieving a 4.0 GPA. To accomplish this she knows she will have to "pull up her socks" in all of her classes -- particularly Language Arts and Literature, which she considers her weakest subjects. Right now she is even taking extra evening classes to strengthen herself in her weak areas, and tries to be even more focused and creative when doing assignments.
Some people would think Toote is being too hard on herself, taking into consideration the fact that she had the best overall and independent Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) results in the country in 2011. She was graded at A in Math, English, Social Studies, Art, Religion, Health Science, General Science and Home Economics and a B in Craft. She still believes she could have done better.
"It was a great feeling to have accomplished what I did for the BJCs. I was surprised when I was told I got the best grades overall in independent schools and the country. It was even nicer to get an award and prizes like $1,000 and a laptop as well, since I never had a personal laptop before, but I try not to focus on that too much. I still have a long road to go if I want to accomplish my dreams. I still need to be focused and really push myself to do even more. It's not good to keep looking at what you did. You still have to keep your eye on the prize and work even harder to achieve all you can at the end, so that is what I am doing," said the overachiever.
Unlike many students who may rely on their parents to push them, Toote believes that the key to her success lies greatly in her own academic independence. She said that at this stage in her education her mother, Edith Toote, a teacher herself, does not heavily assist her in her schoolwork. The high school student said she was made to be responsible for her own successes and failures. The responsible attitude her mother instilled in her, she said, has made her realize how important it is to be self-reliant. If she doesn't accomplish a goal, she said she has no one to blame but herself.
The high school student is keen on finding new strategies to self-motivate herself academically. So far she said her study schedule tactics and incorporation of extra-curricular activities to break up the humdrum existence of schoolwork has worked well for her, keeping her on the honor roll consistently. She was also given the distinction of being named salutatorian of her primary school graduating class in 2008.
As she adjusts to life in high school, young Toote is preparing herself to get ahead academically by preparing to sit the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) Art exam in eleventh grade.
Despite what she says, Toote is definitely one of the smart kids. While she has set a rigorous course of study for herself, because she says her studies are important, she said for someone like herself, it's also a must that she make time for the extra-curricular activities like soccer, volleyball and softball, which she loves.
She also plays the flute and clarinet, and is a member of the New Testament Baptist Church band, as well as the New Bethlehem Baptist Church Band. She is also a member of the National Youth Orchestra.
Toote is also a member of the Student Christian Movement and the Modern Language Club at her school. A young lady with a "civic bone" in her body, she does work with the Red Cross as well.
She said her extra-curricular activities are a way for her to relax, deal with the pressures of schoolwork and just have fun. Toote said they keep her from being bored or easily distracted. Once she commits to a schedule in which her school and social life are balanced, she said she knows she has to utilize her time wisely, which makes her better at time management.
"I have a lot of things I do, so when I slot in to study, I try not to stray away from that plan. I get the hours in, ensure I understand what I am doing and then move on," said Toote.
She doesn't like a quiet corner to do that studying in either. She likes to study with music playing. She said it makes her calmer and helps her to focus better.
"I know I have to make the most of whatever time I schedule, no matter the activity, and this has worked well for me I believe. The times when my study time is cut back I make up for it, but I don't like to do that. School is still the first priority."
Toote has a pretty packed life, but she said all of her extra activities make her a more well-rounded person.
"I have dreams of being headgirl at my school one day too, so I like it when I have opportunities to be in leadership, which is why I am glad my peers chose me to represent my class (Grade 10 Rogers) on the student representative council. I think it is absolutely important to be as involved in different things as you can be."
Young Toote hopes that her dedication to her schoolwork will earn her the chance to attend Liberty University in Virginia to study art and design, even though she's still uncertain of what she wants to do in life. It is an institution that she likes and knows that her mother would be proud if she attended it.
One lesson young Toote said she has learnt well over the years is that putting God first in life is essential to success. She said being driven by God's will gives a greater academic purpose and opens the mind to unknown possibilities.
"As a student you need to have a focal point. You have to have a reason for what you do because otherwise studying and working so hard doesn't make sense. God is the best focal point to me. He gives you a purpose that you will never lose."
This smart kid also advises other students to remember that time is precious and that tomorrow is closer than they think. She believes it is best to take advantage of whatever comes your way, because assuming it can be done later is a mistaken way of thinking.
While she wants to excel academically, she also has plans to travel the world in her more youthful years, because she said it may be a luxury she may not have later in life. Toote said she never wants to be one of those people that have to imagine, "What if ...?"
"It is important to be open to new things and embrace the world around you. Life does not end in the classroom. It is beyond those walls and it's good to get a taste of it. Education happens everywhere, so I encourage other students to just be adventurous."

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