Aaliya a parent’s dream

AT age 15, Aaliya Thorpe is an affable young woman, whose application to her school work, warmth and ability to rationalise the things in life, belies her age. A Form Four student at the Daniel College of Excellence, she has a love for science subjects such as chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics, which could very well explain why she wants to be a neuro-surgeon. “I want to help people. I like making people happy. It’s in my nature,” she said in a soft tone.

At school, she is a straight “A” student who is well-loved and held in high esteem by her teachers and her peers alike. One year ago, she was among a select group of exemplary pupils at her school, who were admitted into a special class to prepare for CXC examinations ahead of the original time-table. She did three subjects: Maths, Spanish and English, and earned Grade II passes. She is preparing for the CXC French examination in January. Aaliya’s mother, Heather, said: “Aaliya’s birthday gift at age one was a blackboard and a time-table. Growing up, I would take her places with me and always carry along a reading book. As a little girl I didn’t have to tell her to study. I still don’t. She would come home from school and head straight for her books, to do homework or revision.”

Aaliya has retained those qualities today, which have not been to her detriment in extra-curricula activities. She is a principal member of St James-based steelband Pan Connoisseurs, where she plays the tenor pan. She also enjoys swimming and has an artistic side, having taking up ceramics. Her mother is a ceramist and Heather said doing family things has shaped Aaliya into the person that she is today. “We talk together. We pray together. We reason together,” Heather revealed. “Most important, I know I can trust her. For that, I allow her freedoms, which she does not abuse. If I come home late from work, she will prepare dinner and work with her young brother Ajala, 12, who listens to her and respects her. If she wants to attend an event, she makes a request to attend.

I am properly informed about what and where it’s taking place and with whom she is going.” Heather Thorpe admits sometimes she has to urge Aaliya to attend events, which she would turn down, if she believes it would affect her school work. She’ll ask me: “Mummy are you sure?”   I tell her: “Yes! I am. You deserve it.”