Jada Wright speaking during the recently held Tech Beach Retreat in Montego Bay.
MONTEGO BAY, St James — While most 14-year-olds are looking forward to the second term of grade nine, Jada Wright is eagerly awaiting her first day at University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) in January.
Dubbed a little genius by her mother Judian Wright, Jada is preparing to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Wright told the Jamaica Observer that her daughter has always been advanced for her age.
While preparing for her Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams, Jada was also studying to sit two Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects. Later that year, she successfully matriculated to Hampton School in her home parish, and also received two grade ones in CSEC.
Since then, Jada has received an additional seven grade ones in CSEC and has coordinated a home-school programme at her parents’ institution, the Caribbean Online Academy. Wright proudly told the Sunday Observer that her daughter achieved all of those goals before her 14th birthday, which was in November.
Fourteen-year-old Jada Wright and her mother Judian
She explained that the novel coronavirus pandemic aided Jada in her quest for success as, unlike others, the young woman loved the flexibility that came with online learning. Wright shared that Jada, who is passionate about coding and computer science, utilised her time online to enroll in master classes, while also preparing for her CSEC subjects.
“So when the COVID cases [declined] and she was to return to Hampton, that was where we had a problem because she didn’t want to go back. She went back briefly, but she had grown so comfortable being online and most importantly, she loves to run business,” Wright told the Sunday Observer.
Admittedly, Wright said that she understood her daughter’s love for the flexibility that came with home schooling. With her background in education as the founder of the South East College in Manchester, Wright said she transitioned her daughter to a full-time online programme.
“I am in the business of education. I have a school, so she is also involved in business. Students talk to her on the phone and they don’t even know they are talking to a child. When I transitioned her to fully online, she started a homeschool programme,” Wright explained.
“This was a new school that we were starting, the Caribbean Online Academy. We were focusing on [Caribbean Examination Council] students and evening classes. That is when she bargained with us and said she would run the homeschool programme, so we took in a cohort for grade seven. She coordinated with the teachers and parents. She also taught them coding,” she added.
Jada was only 12 years old when she took on that task. However, she was determined to prove that she could handle being outside of the public education system.
She has soared.
At the same time, her mother told the Sunday Observer that Jada is also deeply admired in the tech industry. The teenager was invited to share the stage with industry professionals at the recently-held Tech Beach Retreat in Montego Bay. That was her second time at the technology conference.
“This year they asked her to be an ambassador for a kids programme. They also brought in an astronaut and she was a part of that interview panel as well,” said Wright.
With Jada being the younger of her two children, Wright is proud of all the work she has done so far. However, she cannot help but feel emotional, as Jada sets out to soar her wings in January. She said that Jada will not board on campus due to her age.
“This is the first time they are accepting someone so young, so it is a lot of paperwork but she is going to start her degree programme in computer science in January. I am proud, sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming but I am extremely proud of her. I started my first school. the South East College, at 14, so I know what it is like to be passionate about something,” Wright said.
As for Jada, the unfamiliar roads ahead do not frighten her. She told the Sunday Observer that she is ready to continue making big strides in her coding career. The soft-spoken teenager spoke proudly of striking a balance between studying and spending time with her family.
She said that while she has read 60 books since the start of the year, she has also spent adequate time lounging around.
“I spend 80 per cent of my time studying. It’s just to know when to take time out to spend with family; plus I have a dog and a cat – I love animals, so it is really about knowing when to take time to de-stress and when to focus,” said Jada.
However, heading off to university at the age of 14 is another chapter in her book waiting to be written.
“I am very anxious about it. I am a little bit nervous but I think it is going to be an amazing experience. I can’t wait to get started and gain all that new knowledge. I didn’t spend that much time in physical high school so I am looking forward to going to physical college,” Jada told the Sunday Observer.
