By Lisa A McKay, Gleaner WriterIT IS regular to read about girls outshining boys in their academic performance; but here is an exception.
Omri Samuels is an 11-year-old grade six student of the Inverness Primary School, located in St. Ann, who has managed to excel despite numerous challenges in his young life.
Omri has won many awards including the Peace Corps/ Jamaica Gender and Development Creative Thinking Competition in which 300 grade six students across the country entered and the seven who were placed in the top ten, were from the Inverness Primary School. Samuels placed second and won a $4,000 book voucher and a certificate. He was also the writer of their community plan song.
ESSAY COMPETITION
The Scientific Research Council had launched an Essay competition 'Saving the Ozone layer' in which Omri won first place overall and was given $5,000 and a trophy. The 11-year-old has been doing exceptionally well despite the recent death of his mother, 29 year-old Woman Constable Deniese Hill-Thomas, who died last December in a tragic motor vehicle accident.
Omri now lives with his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Hill and his younger brother Jahmali. "When his mother died we thought he couldn't cope, because it was so sudden and he had to be under constant supervision because of how depressed he was", explained Mrs. Hill who is really proud of her grandson. "He is so creative and he tries to take part in everything. Even when I am cooking, Omri is always wanting to help or to bake something of his own."
CREATIVE
The Peace Corp. representative for the area, Andrea Tehan, told The Gleaner that Samuels has entered numerous competitions for 4-H Clubs, poster competitions, environmental projects and even church plays. The principal of his school, Ms. Jeffrey Campbell added: " Omri is very creative with his hands, he does exceptionally well academically, but he has not really got over the death of his mother." "At times he just gets really serious and sad but apart from that Omri will soar to great heights," adds the principal.
