Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

MOON

She came here at age seven and did not speak a word of English, but South Korean-born Hye Kyung Moon managed to outperform her female counterparts in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and was given this year's Scotiabank award for the top performing girl in the island.

Moon, a student at Stella Maris Preparatory School in St Andrew, says she is still in a state of shock.

"I still do not believe that this is happening," Moon said yesterday when The Gleaner caught up with her at Holy Cross Church, St Andrew, where she was attending a function.

"I was hoping to at least get a scholarship but I didn't know that I would be this year's top girl," she said with a grin.

Thanks for support

The 12-year-old, who will be attending Campion College in September, said she could not have done so well had it not been for the support she got from her teacher and her parents.

"I would like to thank my parents for giving me a wonderful life, and God for guiding me in every step of the way," Moon said.

A prefect and peer counsellor at her school, Moon also plays the piano and the violin. She enjoys swimming and playing football.

A surgeon, lawyer or scientist in the making, Moon said her superb GSAT performance was just the tip of the iceberg. She promised to do greater things in the future.

Moon's father, businessman Young Ki Moon, said although he knew his daughter was a hard worker, he did not expect that she would have been named the top girl in the island.

Moon's father described her as a bright, talented, humble and a nice girl.

She scored 100 for mathematics, language arts 99, 97 for social studies, 96 for science and 11 out of 12 for communication task.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com