SHELDON WILIAMS, STAFF REPORTER

Kingston College's head boy Joel Nomdarkham has been steadily building up a reputation for leadership and extra-curricular involvement while balancing his academic studies.

"I balance being head boy and school work well. Luckily, I have an extremely functional prefect and sub-prefect body working with, so majority of the pressure that comes with being head boy is a bit lightened for me," Nomdarkham said.

He continued, "the school's administration is also very supportive of us, the student leaders. I also think I delegate well, so the responsibilities are shared at some point, allowing the development of upcoming student leaders. In all this, I find the time to do assignments, tests and mentally preparing myself for school daily."

The 18-year-old has been an honour-roll student since the seventh grade and has received awards for good work at every awards ceremony that has been held by his school, gaining him the reputation as a consistent academic performer.

Nomdarkham saved his best for last when he was awarded an Academic Excellence Award for his CSEC passes.

The outspoken and admittedly competitive head boy has nine CSEC passes including four distinctions in English literature, human and social biology, office administration and information technology.

He also earned credits in English language, history, principle of accounts and French, and a pass in mathematics.

At the CAPE level, he has passes in four subjects, a distinction in communication studies, two credits in sociology and literatures in English and a pass in history.

Nomdarkham, who is an immediate past international trustee of Key Club International after being selected in Florida on July 8th along with 12 other International Key Clubbers, was the only black person and only person from the Caribbean Diaspora to be chosen at that time.

STAR Achievers sought insight from Nomdarkham into his work ethic, balance of responsibilities, framework for success and future plans, among other things in an interview on Thursday.

Q:Do you consider yourself academically gifted?

A:I actually do. For some strange reason, I always allow my activity time to overpower the time I spend doing school work, but I manage to do well academically.

Q:Among your many academic achievements, which are you most proud of?

A: I am really proud of my CSEC literature and human and social biology passes - the only two subjects I "studied" hard for as I got distinctions in both. It shows hard work does pay off. I read a lot for them both.

Q:Do you have any academic inhibitions? Expound on your answer.

A:Yes. Majority of the times I have to hit myself in the head to remind myself that I'm at school to get good grades and participate as well. Majority of the time, I allow my other involvement to deter my full potential. It is a task and a half being the head boy of Kingston College, brand ambassador for the Jamaica Yellow Pages, and active Kingston College Key Clubber, among others. It is a difficult task to balance.

Q:What is your career goal?

A: I would love to pursue politics or film acting.

Q: Do you ever think about failing or quitting if a task at hand appears to be difficult? Expound on your answer.

A:Yes, I do some of the times. However, Bishop Percival Gibson, founder of Kingston College, gave us that motto for a purpose. "Fortis Cadere Cedere Non Potest". The feel of giving up is inevitable in a frustrated situation; however, I meditate on my school's motto to ease the feel of quitting.

Q:If you could prescribe a framework for guaranteed academic success, what would it be? Please describe?

A:This framework would definitely focus on proper time management. It will insist that each individual, destined for success, should design a plan of action, as well as how it is that they plan to allot the time for each.

Q:Do you have any role models that you aspire to emulate?

A: I am dying to meet Donald Trump! I admire the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on a local basis, though. Would love to have a good talk with him. and have tea. (laughs.)