BRIGHT AND BOLD - Mountain View youth defying the odds

Growing up in a community plagued by crime and violence, it is easy to become either a victim of the circumstances or a product of your environment. Johmar Bennett, however, was determined to take the high road.

The Mountain View, St Andrew, native learnt at an early stage in life what it was like to have to step up to the plate and handle a host of responsibilities.

The 22-year-old University of the West Indies (UWI) student lost his father at a tender age. His dad was murdered.

"When you're young, you tend to not understand certain things, but growing up now I hope that he would be here to see all I'm doing. But at the end of the day, it's all about being strong for him and being strong for my mother, to show my younger siblings that even growing up without a father you can still make it," Bennett said.

Bennett spent his early days in Hanover, after his mother sent him there to live with his grandparents at the age of 10. His grandfather, now the major male figure in his life, helped him to be a man.

"My grandfather tended to be the manly figure in my life, so he showed me how to do all the manly stuff around the house, especially in my teenage life; he was there to guide me through puberty and all other things as I started to understand life," he said.

Bennett moved back to Kingston at the age of 15 and later joined the Excelsior High School family. After getting seven CSEC subjects, he went to Jamaica College where he did his CAPE subjects. At home, he had to set an example for his younger siblings.

"As the eldest, I had to become a role model for my younger siblings in the sense where I had to take a stand and make sure that I respected myself first, then respect them so they would be able to respect me," Bennett told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Bennett is now a standout student at The UWI, where he is pursuing a double major in accounting and economics. He has received various accolades such as the Dean's List award every semester since first year, in addition to the honour of securing the GraceKennedy Carlton Alexander scholarship, which is awarded to Jamaica College old boys performing well in university.

The scholarship allows him a tuition-free university experience for years two and three.

"To be granted a scholarship was very great for me because it allowed financial freedom," he said.

He continued: "I told myself that I didn't want to take out student loans for all my time at UWI because I knew tuition would be a burden on my family, so I told myself I planned to work hard so I could get a scholarship in first year."

Bennett dreams of becoming a financial analyst and a financial economist.

He also intends to continue being an inspiration to young people in tough inner-city communities.

"At the end of the day, you have to just stay positive and level headed. As long as you don't give up, there is always a chance at life," Bennett said.