Glenmuir valedictorian stands out among nation’s brightest scholars

Raine Cooper’s journey is one of faith, discipline, resilience, and unwavering family support. At 16 years old, the Glenmuir High School valedictorian has distinguished herself among Jamaica’s brightest young scholars.

She posits that, with prayer, persistence, and community, even the most formidable challenges can be transformed into triumphs.

Her achievement in the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations has etched her name into the annals of academic excellence. Raine secured 10 grade ones across a demanding suite of subjects: additional mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, English language, English literature, mathematics, information technology, Spanish, and technical drawing.

Recounting the moment she saw her results, Raine told The Gleaner that she was left speechless. She remembered refreshing the results page in disbelief, before elation and deep gratitude to God set in.

“I cried too, they got me on video,” she added.

Though consistently high performing from grade 7 through to 11, she confessed she never regarded success as a certainty. Describing herself as “cautiously optimistic”, Raine explained that while she worked assiduously, some of her results exceeded her expectations.

She shared that CSEC preparation was rooted in steady discipline and carefully honed strategies.

“Preparation really starts a long time before exam season,” she said, adding that by fourth form, she was already leveraging assignments and classwork as part of her revision activities. With numerous extracurricular obligations, Raine often reshaped her routine, sometimes rising as early as 3:30 a.m. to study. Instead of allocating rigid blocks of time, she said she developed a task-based timetable, setting concrete academic goals each day.

Yet, the path was not without its pressures.

“On more than one occasion, I just had to cry and let it out,” she admitted, but prayer, determination, and inspiration from a friend’s success became her anchor.

“When you involve God in your efforts, He provides the support you need.”

Her family, she stressed, formed the bedrock of her success.

“They reminded me that even while studying, I should never neglect prayer and reading the Bible,” Raine said. She recalled her father’s humour to ease her tension, her mother’s constant encouragement, and her younger sister Rimani’s quiet companionship, staying up with her through the early mornings of study.

Teachers, too, played an integral role in her journey. She singled out her physics teacher, Adrian Gooden, for his clarity and encouragement, calling him “truly excellent” and “the GOAT – the greatest of all time”.

MENTOR AND SUPPORT

She also lauded Andrea Brown, her former homeroom teacher, who continued to mentor and support her students long after they moved on.

Although she excelled across the board, chemistry and additional mathematics demanded the greatest effort. Rather than yielding to discouragement, Raine shared that she approached the subjects with persistence.

“It taught me that even if something doesn’t come naturally, with enough effort and persistence I can still master it,” she told The Gleaner.

Beyond academics, Raine is an engaged and multifaceted student. She delights in dancing, reading, writing, and, more recently, crocheting. She served as vice president of the student council and participated in the Key Club, Chess Club, Social Enterprise Club, and Dance Society. These activities, she believes, gave her balance, and strengthened her focus.

For students preparing for their own CSEC journey, Raine’s counsel is both candid and profound.

“It is completely normal to be anxious. Trust me, I was a worrywart,” she admitted. However, her advice is to lean on prayer, prepare diligently, and minimise distractions.

“Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah. I can’t stress that enough … CSEC is not bigger than our God,” she affirmed. In a practical step, she also limited social media use, deleting TikTok and Instagram from as early as fourth form.

Looking ahead, Raine has her sights firmly set on a career in electrical engineering. Now in lower sixth form at Glenmuir High, she is focused on excelling in her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Unit 1 subjects. With plans to join the robotics and math clubs, she continues to marry her academic pursuits with extracurricular engagement.

Guiding her steps is her favourite scripture, Isaiah 41:10: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you … I will fortify you, yes, I will help you.”

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com