Dacia excels despite Graves’ Disease

Dacia Reid is not a girl who allows any obstacle to hinder her ambitions, as even a period of illness during fourth form could not keep her from later achieving 12 grade ones out of 13 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination subjects.

The 17-year-old Manning's School lower-sixth form student, who hails from Moreland Hill in Westmoreland, sat the exams in mathematics, English A, English B, biology, human and social biology, food and nutrition, Spanish, social studies, integrated science, information technology, principles of business, principles of accounts, and Caribbean history.

Of these, she got grade one passes in all except social studies, for which she got a grade two result.

Dacia said she faced numerous challenges after being diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune illness which causes complications, including muscle weakness and sleeping disorders.

"When I was in fourth form, I was diagnosed with Graves' disease, and a side effect of the disease was that I had trouble focusing in class, so I was always tired. I found it hard to focus and study, and that led to a drastic reduction in my grades," said Dacia.

"I had to redo fourth form and I ended up changing my course, because I had always had my eyes set on being a lawyer, but I said to myself that I would try out medicine ... but it turns out law is where I belong," Dacia said.

Concerning her illness, Dacia said she has not experienced symptoms since receiving treatment prior to and during her exam preparation.

"Right now I am doing very well. I don't have Graves' disease, it has gone into remission, and I am no longer on treatment, thankfully. God has been good to me," said Dacia.