‘Captain Cool’ Alex leads Titchfield to SCQ glory

As the seconds ticked down in the final of last Tuesday's Schools' Challenge Quiz final, the Titchfield High School team held its composure to bring the trophy to Portland.

That composure and high level of confidence that brought victory emanated from the captain Alex Anderson, his teammates feeding off of it. Anderson, who was born in one of the most depressed communities in eastern Portland, Janga Gully, quickly relocated to the nearby Spring Bank, a farming community at age two, where he went through the formal school system at Boundbrook Infant and then Port Antonio Primary schools. He recounted that it was at the latter that the grooming process for greatness started.

"So I have to big up Port Antonio Primary, which assisted with moulding and shaping me. Primary school for me and my teammates had a massive impact on who we are," commented Anderson.

"That toughness, that sharpness, that desire to always persevere was achieved while attending Port Antonio Primary. I am really glad for [the school] because in my time it was do or die. Academically speaking, it was do or die. So I always maintained that mentality to compete," he added.

Fast-forward to the days at Titchfield High School, Anderson pointed out that he has already secured 11 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate passes including distinctions, while making the merit list in the Caribbean for two of those subjects. And at the sixth form level, Anderson has had success in six passes in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, which also includes history and sociology.

"The support from my mother, stepfather, aunt, and sister has been tremendous. Also, the support from my community is good. We are a positive team and we have always maintained that come what may, we should always remain relaxed and focused in all our games. When we answered two questions incorrectly during the buzzer section [in the final against Jamaica College], we knew that we still had it in us to win," he said.

"Titchfield has a certain type of swag and style, and as part of our training, we ensure that we never focus on the score, but rather to do what needs to be done to ensure success. We always remain focused and mentally sharp, because we know that come what may, we will find a way to win," he added.

And commenting on the now viral French question about the fried fish and rice translation, Anderson said that it was more about the response rather than the buzz, which has led to the response's rise on social media.

"Whenever they watch Titchfield, it is always expected that we will come up with something catchy, special, and to some extent as being funny. We are not just the average nerds answering nerdy questions, we have personality. At Titchfield, here we have flair, we have fire. There is something about us and that is why Portlanders, the rest of Jamaica, and others, love to watch Titchfield in action," he said.

"Jamaica wants to watch youngsters with flair and fire and that is just what we brought to the table."