Just two weeks before they were scheduled to do the Secondary Entrance Assessment exam in 2020, the whirlwind that was the covid19 pandemic sent them into a tailspin that forced them into unfamiliar territory. The SEA exam that year had been set for April 2, but because of the restrictions that came with the pandemic, they were forced to deflect to online classes to continue preparation for the SEA at a date to be announced. They eventually did the exam on August 20, 2020.
That cohort is now the graduating class of 2025, and is again in exam mode – this time the CSEC exams, but without the additional pressures of pandemic fear and protocols.
On April 4, part of that group walked proudly into their school's auditorium at their graduation ceremony. The army of over 180 blue and gold-clad Trinity College East (TCE) young men wore their pride, confidence and resilience like a badge of honour, as was their right. For, in keeping with the theme, Against All Odds, they, like so many of their year-group, fought hard to make it to this milestone.
[caption id="attachment_1149296" align="alignnone" width="683"] Head prefect Myron Diaz addresses his fellow graduates. -[/caption]
As a representative from each form five classes took to the stage of the Cheryl Greaves Auditorium to speak about their experiences at TCE, they could not help but make reference to the almost two years of online school, when their ability to pivot and adapt was severely tested; when their lack of healthy socialisation began to take its toll; when the months of constantly sharing the same space with their families drove everyone involved to the brink.
But there were also many in-person school stories – stories of dedicated teachers, like the one of Ms Pierre-Gouveia doing the goofy dance on the block as she chased after students for SBAs (school-based assignments); stories of the dread of dean Keron Marson's patrols; stories of bonds formed, lessons learned, friendly student rivalries and activities that were expected because "boys will be boys."
"In covid you would have overcome the odds," feature speaker Kerwin Springer told them, as parents, relatives and teachers looked on with pride.
Springer is an author, math teacher and founder of the online learning platform, Student Hub.
"Having to switch to online school may have left some students behind; students who would not have had the best technology access.
"There were real challenges that came during that time...And all of that you would have experienced within your the two years of passing for Trinity College East."
But then when they returned to in-person school, the routine to which they had grown accustomed for almost two years had to be readjusted.
"Waking up late," to now having to wake up early, Springer chuckled.
[caption id="attachment_1149295" align="alignnone" width="683"] Rene Giroux accepts his certificate from form teacher Kalifer Corentin. -[/caption]
"The different travelling arrangements. Then you would have missed out key parts of the syllabus and curric
