When 11-year-old Kimmy* was announced as the top-scoring girl in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) for the Child Protection and Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA) Southern Region, her grandmother Jane* cheered the loudest.

As the youngster walked towards the front of the stage at the Jamaica Conference Centre where the CPFSA’s PEP Awards ceremony was being held, her smile grew wider. Little Kimmy was deserving of every cheer as, despite several obstacles, she strived for excellence academically and earned her place at The Hampton School in St Elizabeth.

“Oh God, when I found out I was going to Hampton, I cried. I was happy and very emotional. I was crying tears of joy because I studied really hard. I am going to work very hard at Hampton also, so I can make an impact on society. I am still not sure what I want to be when I grow up but I have teacher in mind,” the youngster told THE STAR.