A Changed Life

My son, Romaine, is a 13-year-old third-form student at St. Georges College having passed the GSAT exam a little more than a year ago. His life has been drastically changed because of the influence of Mrs Lorna Stanley. I know my child has the ability to excel academically but, living in a community such as Rema, I was worried about losing him to drugs or to the gun as is the case of many single parents in this community.

Mrs Stanley saw the potential of my son and, realizing my concern, she opened up her doors to my child and took him into her home to live with her for a while soon after he started attending that very prestigious high school. Romaine was ignorant about the life and culture of the middle class and felt lost in a strange world but Miss Stanley was so kind, loving and patient with him as she taught him ways that he could fit in.

Tears come to my eyes as I watch my son blending in with a society that I never dreamed he could. Speaking Standard English with fluency and ease, confidently eating with a knife and fork and writing e-mails on a computer are just a few of the many new things he has learnt.

Miss Stanley has had such an impact on my son’s life that even though she has never heard it before, he is always sharing with his peers and his teachers about his ‘Hero’ Miss Lorna, who saved him from a life of uncompromising bitterness. He has learned that with hard work he can excel and now strives to get A’s in school instead of just passing grades. He has also learned that no matter where one lives one can aspire to reach great heights and that’s what my son is now doing—striving for excellence as he was taught by Miss Lorna Stanley.

Debbie Maraghe

Mother of Romaine Maraghe
November 2002