Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Left: QQ.   Right: Ace deejay Bounty Killer speaks with young deejay Dada. - File photos

Juggling school and life is no easy task for regular teens. Add a budding career as an entertainer to the mix, and you have a heady and heavy burden to balance.

However, young DJs like QQ, Dadda and Shane O say they are making the most of life before and behind the spotlight. The young artistes are excelling in education.

In only grade seven at Calabar High School QQ, real name Kareem Dawkins, describes the hard journey to stay true to oneself as a person and an entertainer while going to school. "Its kinda hard trying to be yourself as a performer. People know you as QQ, but school work is excellent, my grades are going up they haven't dropped at all," he said.

QQ's father Joseph Dawkins confirms that the youth is doing very well in school. He said that QQ has done five tests and has scored A's on all five. "His school work is excellent, I speak to his teachers and they all say he's doing well. He has a strong background in terms of school, its a priority. During school time we don't allow him to do music".

Presently QQ is only booked for shows in November and December, in summer it was 'crazy' work. He says "everyday my parents tell me I must concentrate on school work".

The same seems to be true for fellow artiste Dadda (Amir Fyffe). He says he is doing well in high school with his favourite subject being language.

Although a bit older, Shane O (Roshain McDonald) just finished Kingston Technical High School in June. The Star was unable to talk with the artiste personally but Trovis Brevitt aka 'Belly', Shane O's road manager states: "It kinda pressuring for him, the stardom, but him manage it. When him have performances him mek him teachers know in advance so him can get the notes and make preparations."

Despite the effort, his manager elaborated that the artiste experienced a lot of pressure from school, work, fathering a six week old daughter and more. But Shane O is adamant to regain focus and he will be doing evening classes when he returns to the island, as well as pursue his career and his role as father.

The youngsters have many ways to balance the road to stardom and the thirst for knowledge. According to Dadda he only does shows on weekends, leaving school days for school alone. His parents remain very supportive of his career, and encourage him to get a education. Dadda states "no its not hard. Managing both. Mi put in di two of dem in my head so mi focus on both".

With a confident manner QQ expressed how lovely attending Calabar High School has been despite some unwanted attention. "They (students) don't really trouble me, at first they used to trouble me like they would always come to my class everyday. After a while they're just like mi doopes".

These starlets claim that entertainment is a huge part of their lives, they plan to pursue it as a career. QQ states "I see myself as an entertainer. I would like to be a pastor but I doubt it. Maybe if I dont do music I would, but I see myself doing music forever, I'm good at it. School is definitely important beyond the hype, nothing can be more important. Education is important to music, you need to learn how to speak properly, the basics. People will cheat you otherwise".

Dadda also encourages "getting an education is important. If yuh nuh have a education yuh can't reach anywhere. We love school, see when yuh get yuh education nobody caan trick yuh or anything".<