Last week we reported that Saint John's College student Ian Malcolm Lizarraga topped this year's CXC exams with 12 passes at the general proficiency level. St. Catherine's Academy's Aimee Flores came in a close second with 10 grade one passes, also at the general proficiency level. Flores and Lizarraga are two of the more than two hundred students who excelled on this year's Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Exams (CXC). All of them were honored this morning and 7NEWS was there.
Ian Lizarraga, Saint John's College
"These were the last words I heard from a parent in my standard six graduation, these were the words: 'sorry Ian, they can only be one number one.' With a big hideous smile on his face, 'sorry you're not good enough. There can
only be one number one and you're not it.' But four years later, here I am."
And Ian Lizarraga is number one because he did better than any other Belizean on this year's Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam. He took 12 CXCs at the general proficiency level and passed all of them, on ten of them he got a grade one. Since finding out last week that he's the country's top performer, Ian says it's been surreal.
Ian Lizarraga,
"I am very happy and I am very proud and I love to be here. I am glad. I passed twelve subjects and I got ten grade ones and two grade twos. I knew I put in the work so I knew I was going to, if not get the highest, at least get good enough that I am proud of myself. But that I actually got the highest, I feel, I am excited and surprised and I am very happy."
And sharing in that joy of scholarly success is Ian's parents Nuri and Dr. Victor Lizarraga.
Nuri Lizarraga, Mother
"I don't think you can explain the happiness and the pride that a parent feels. It is really unbelievable. We are really excited, really happy for Ian. Like I said, Ian deserves what he got. He worked very hard and having accomplished what he did, I think is like the culmination of all his efforts."
Keith Swift,
Doc how proud are you of your son?
Dr. Victor Lizarraga, Father
"I am very proud."
One student used to being on top is Aimee Flores. We first met her four years when she topped the PSE exam.
Aimee Flores,
[2002 Interview] "Well I will continue to try my best and study hard and hope to do well in high school."
And she kept true to that promise. Four years later, the grown-up Aimee is number two. The SCA student passed ten CXCs at the general proficiency level.
Aimee Flores, Saint Catherine's Academy
"It certainly feels good. I am very proud of myself."
And though the spotlight shone brightest on Aimee and Ian this morning, the stars of the show were all of these students - over two hundred of them who excelled on the CXCs. We are talking about students like Jia Wu. He didn't score a grade one on ten CXCs but he did the best in the entire region on the visual arts exam.
Keith Swift,
If you could describe this feeling to somebody, how would you describe it?
Jia Wu, Regional Award Winner
"Its really hard to tell with words. I still feel nervous and excited and proud at the same time."
And Ian says they achieved because they didn't listen to voices in the crowd, or in this case the class, they led the class.
Ian Lizarraga,
"There are those who will try to make you doubt your abilities, that you are not good enough or smart enough or strong enough. The people who are cruel or stupid enough to tell you these things are not worth even a thousandth of a second of your time."
And those were voices they didn't have a chance to listen to because they were probably too busy studying. Today was payday.
For being at the top - Aimee Flores and Ian Lizarraga both won scholarships for an associates degree along with brand new laptops from an anonymous donor. Both are now attending St. John's College Junior College.
