My
Second Chance
When I first came to the Restoration School, I wasn’t attending school for a while because my mother had recently died and I lived with abusive relatives who weren’t interested in sending me to school. I was suffering from depression and low-self esteem as I was still struggling with anger toward mother because she would always stop me from attending school in order to stay home and take care of her baby. I was also angry at my father who discouraged me from taking the Grade Nine Achievement Test because he wouldn’t be able to pay school fees for me. Nevertheless, I took the exam and failed because I was ill-prepared.
My relatives very grudgingly paid the first term’s school fee for me at Restoration School and after that, the rest was up to me as my father again told me he couldn’t afford to send me to school. However, after attending school that first term, the Principal of the School, Mrs. Lorna Stanley soon learnt of my plight and because she was impressed with my conduct as well as my academic ability she soon found a sponsor who assisted me with all my financial needs. I remained at the Restoration School for one year and was again able to sit the Grade Nine Achievement Test. I really cried that day when the results came out and I had passed as it meant that I would now be able to fulfill my dream of going to high school.
I started attending the Edith Dalton James High School in 1999 but approaching the second year, life continued to be difficult for me and I sought help from a man and unfortunately, I became pregnant and had to leave school. Although my relatives cursed me and told me to leave home I had nowhere else to go so I tried to endure it the best I could but it seemed to have been too much for me and I lost the child.
Some months later, Miss Lorna heard about what had happened and sent to call me and told me that even though I had made a mistake she still believed in me and that I had a bright future and she wanted to give me a second chance. I was very happy about this and eagerly grasped this opportunity. Mrs. Stanley again found a sponsor for me who paid all my fees, bought my books and uniforms and, I was able to enroll in the Trench Town Comprehensive High School.
I can’t begin to express my joy at being given this second chance in life as I have been doing extremely well in school. I came first in my class and last week, I received five (5) Certificates for Outstanding Achievement in five subjects including Math and Information Technology. I am now in the 11th grade and will be taking seven CXC subjects next year and I am striving hard to pass them.
Mrs. Stanley keeps telling me and has now convinced me that I am University material. It is now my goal to attend the University of the West Indies and major in Computer Science. I know that with the help of God, Mrs. Stanley and my sponsor, Mr. Herman Athias who continues to assist me with lunch money, bus fares, exam fees and all my school need, I will realize that goal.
I just want the world to know that if it wasn’t for Mrs. Lorna Stanley I would probably be on the streets today, being used and abused by men. But, she didn’t allow me to go that route again as there were times when I didn’t even have food to eat and even though things are hard with her at times; she always tries her best to give me whatever she can. I appreciate all Miss Lorna is doing for me and I will always be grateful to her for giving me that “Second Chance.”
