IN JAMAICA (NICE STORY): Law breakthrough for 26 y-o Cieanna Smith, after sitting CAPE/CXC exams in hospital.... Young St Ann professional urges volunteerism by more Jamaicans....Imagine sitting several examinations in a hospital bed while in pain and facing discomfort.

BY RENAE DIXON Sunday Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, October 26, 2014    

CIEANNA Smith is a true representation of determination.

There were many dark clouds which hung over her life, but the 26-year-old, who is expected to be called to the legal bar soon, was always determined to achieve.

Cienna Smith

Imagine sitting several examinations in a hospital bed while in pain and facing discomfort. That was what Smith endured during her final year at the Brown's Town Community College. She was involved in an accident just a day into sitting her second units of CAPE exams. Smith said that she believed she recognised most of her strengths following her car accident in 2007.

"I had my first CAPE exam the Monday and I had my next exam the Tuesday morning," said Smith.

She was involved in the accident the Monday night but was determined to do the exams despite being in hospital and so she insisted that her mother bring her books to her.

"It felt like a dream. When I woke up in the hospital, I said, 'Oh my God, I really met in an accident', but all that was on my mind was that I had exams for the week," she recalled.

Not wanting to repeat the year, she called her mother who in turn telephoned college principal James Walsh who contacted the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) governing body in Barbados explaining that she had been involved in an accident and wanted to sit her exams in the hospital.

"I did all my other exams in the hospital and when I was leaving Brown's Town Community College I was named top performer," she said, adding that it was a big surprise to many. more