A 19-YEAR-OLD Arundel School student Jade Jewel Wadyajena had her name written in the history books after scoring 15 points in the Advance Level (A Level) Cambridge examinations.
Wadyajena was studying History, English Language and Literature in English and at the elite learning institution in Harare.
“I have always been single-minded in my aspiration to become a family lawyer, in particular representing the interests and rights of disadvantaged children and young people. I knew that to qualify for a competitive programme, I would need to have strong A Level results, and work on being a well-rounded high achiever, at par with the students at Oxford, Durham, Harvard and other schools of that ilk,” said Wadyajena.
Curiously, Jade happens to be one of those rare children of the country’s politicians who excel in their studies. Many children of the country’s politicians have notoriously been known to be so spoilt that they are always busy flaunting their parents’ riches and hardly excel in school. Jade is the daughter to flamboyant politician and businessman Mayor Wadyajena.
She attested: “I recognised that coming from a political family was not going to help me in the exam room. So, I put my head down and focused on my academic and personal development. I was just uncompromising in my determination and I am elated about what I have achieved. I am indebted to my incredible parents and to the wonderful staff at Arundel School who were exacting, supportive and nurturing.”
During her stint at Arundel School last year, Jade won a number of academic accolades; among them were the Library Shield, the Catherine Stevenson Cup (for perseverance), History prize, English Language prize and English Literature prize.
“Many of the (exam) results this year (are) a testament to the fact that Zimbabwe still maintains extremely high educational standards and produces students who can compete at a global level. We can be very grateful to the government in that regard,” she added.
Her dream is to study Law at Oxford or Durham university.
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“This is just the beginning for me, I am hoping to go on to read law at either Oxford or Durham which have superlative undergraduate law programmes. I am excited about my future and reaching my very highest academic potential — even possibly following in the footsteps of my father who is currently pursuing a PhD. I am certain I will surpass him,” said Wadyajena.
“My advice to students studying for major exams is to go beyond what you are taught in the classroom. Be curious and read widely. But above all else it is discipline and consistency that ultimately get you over the line.
“More generally, young people who want to make something of themselves need to stay away from drugs, alcohol and other illicit substances — including the premium stuff which often goes unnoticed. Here, I implore the authorities to intervene as these two vices are decimating so many young lives,” she added.
