Rebekah is recognised for her 12 years of full attendance

Rebekah is recognised for her 12 years of full attendance

13 January 2016

KILLYLEAGH teenager Rebekah Flynn has some advice for those struggling to get going in the morning.

‘You can get through the day’ is her mantra and she practises what she preaches.

The 17 year-old has been awarded a certificate from the Education Authority celebrating 12 years of full attendance at school.

Having recently started her A-Level studies at Down High School, Rebekah’s award is for her seven years at Killyleagh Primary School and her five years at Blackwater Integrated College.

But there’s another two years to go now and she doesn’t plan to be blemishing her sixth form attendance record any time soon. “I am going for the 14,” she laughed. “It is a good motivation.”

Although describing herself as a positive and determined person, Rebekah admits there were times over the years when she struggled in feeling unwell.

“You have just got to do your best when you get up,” she said. “If you are feeling bad or down, you just have to say ‘I will try to get over it ‘.

“If you take one day off then your 12 or 14 years of attendance are completely gone. Once you get through one or two years it is a motivation.”

Currently studying Biology, English Literature, Geography and Moving Image Arts, Rebekah said she believed her full attendance record has helped in her school work to date.

“You have to be there every day, every week,” she said. “It is work to catch up.”

Particularly happy with her A in Geography and A* in Art at GCSE, she said she hoped to go on to university and ultimately teach Geography.

“I would also like to work with National Geographic,” she said. “I am interested in filmmaking and photography. Behind the camera.”

She added: “Everyone has been really welcoming at Down High and I have fitted in really well.”

Rebekah was the only student from the Down District area to receive a certificate at a special ‘Celebrating Full Attendance at School’ event held recently at the Education Authority. Forty-eight students from across Northern Ireland were recognised.

“My family were very proud of my attendance achievement,” she said. “They always pushed me to do it and were very encouraging.”

And asked if she had any advice was for the students coming up behind her, Rebekah said: “I would probably say, work hard, you can do it.

“You can get up in the morning, you can get through the day. I have always tried my best in whatever situation.”