Latest update January 7th, 2025 4:10 AM
Latest News
Teen mom who returned to high school at 21 gains seven CSEC passes
Waterfalls Magazine – Teen mom, Olana John has had her fair share of hurdles to jump over in life but she did so with humility, grace and hard work.
Teen mom, Olana John
At age 21, Olana John swallowed her pride and ventured into a classroom with teenagers, determined to make something of herself.
She said that Chase’s Academic Foundation provided her with the perfect opportunity t o achieve her goal. The petite young lady had her first disappointment when she failed the Common Entrance Exam. She confessed that when she started high school, she hardly knew how to read but was determined to be successful.
Then at the age of 16, due to financial difficulties with her mother at the time, she couldn’t afford to continue her education and she dropped out of high school. She became pregnant at 18 and birthed a beautiful baby girl.
This birth, she says reignited her passion to finish school and with the financial help from her aunt, Patricia Williams, she restarted her academic journey.
Her journey culminated last Thursday night when she secured seven grade two passes at CSEC 2023.
“This means so much to me; only God really knows. These seven passes remind me of the seven years without. They reminded me of all the times people laughed at me and called me a failure. These passes remind me that you may fall down six times but the seventh time can be your time to smile. So what may just be seven passes to some, might be a motivation today to young ladies like myself to go again. To give their dreams another try…”
The grace and optimism with which Olana moves with demands the attention and respect from all who sees her. “While I didn’t pass Math and English this year, I’ll do them again next year and with God’s grace, I will get them”. Olana dedicates her performance to God, her aunt, mom and daughter.
Olana says that her support system was strong over the past year. “Man, it felt like everybody wanted me to win, my aunt would send my school fees way before it’s due, my mom would take care of my daughter while I attend classes as late as 9pm. My teacher would encourage me while I’m in school… I just knew it was coming. I just had to keep working.”
Olana says that her dream is to become a firefighter.
(Compiled by Dr. Jamain Hatton)
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Boxing should be banned
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Olympic boxing now finds itself as at a crossroads. A recent report in the Kaieteur News... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
