Homeless graduate achieves certification - Hopes to rebuild life following disaster

Category 5 Hurricane Melissa may have destroyed her house, but not the dreams of St Elizabeth resident Rasheda Brown.

On Sunday, Brown, who hails from Oxford, was among more than 200 students who graduated from Distinction College at a ceremony held at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Port Royal Street, Kingston. Now a certified pharmacy technician, the mother of one's current situation fit the graduation's theme perfectly - 'From the wreckage, we rise'.

"We lost everything in the hurricane. It has been really rough for us because one minute we are comfortable in our house and the next minute it's gone. I am going to have to start from scratch again. We are currently staying with a friend but I am seeking somewhere to rent because I don't want to overstay my welcome," Brown said.

As she reflects on her situation, Brown's eyes welled up with tears and her voice cracked. She then released a smile before stating that her certification will be a key factor in rebuilding a better life.

"Distinction College is a major start for me and I will not stop there. I am going to continue with my studies and be more qualified so I can get a solid work in the public sector. It is rough now but things are going to get better for us. Things are going to be okay and today (Sunday) is living proof. Here I am graduating as a pharmacy technician," she said.

Brown said that although she worked as a cashier for a few years, she was unable to make ends meet.

"The cashier work wasn't really consistent as there were times when I only work two or three days per week. I knew I needed to get certified in order to get something more concrete, so I started asking around where I could go to school to become a pharmacy technician and I heard about a school. But the minimum wage that I was getting couldn't pay the fee," she said.

With dampened spirits, Brown said she contemplated her next move until a friend told her about Distinction College.

"That was a huge relief for me as I was able to pay the school fee in instalments. This was something that I prayed really hard about. I knew it wasn't going to be easy because I had to care for my daughter and work as well," she said.

It was not a smooth ride settling in the learning institution, as Brown said she failed her first exam and had to seek tutoring assistance from her friend.

"My friend Renae told me not to worry and she helped me a lot. I paid for the re-sit and my exam score was over 80 per cent and I was really proud of myself. I haven't failed an exam since and it just all worked out. As I mentioned earlier, things are going to be better," she said before waltzing off to her seat.