UWI student selling artwork to pay off tuition

Despair and fear are the emotions Shana-Gail Young is feeling as she seeks the more than J$1 million she owes the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, to complete her degree.

Young, 25, has three courses outstanding, but cannot be registered to do them unless her balance is cleared.

In addition, her balance attracts a one per cent interest every month it isn't paid, and she has not been able to get an extension on her loan from Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) as it is currently in arrears. Now, she has decided to use her talent to sell art pieces to clear her balance.

"Honestly, I think art is my blessing and in times when I need to make ends meet, this is what helps me. I didn't know it would work out but I felt it is this or nothing. If it doesn't work, it doesn't, but at least I've tried. I've tried everything. I've written letters, I've done fundraisers, I've done it all. This is the one thing (painting) that I haven't tried with and it seems to be working," the Linstead, St Catherine, native said. She did not say how many pieces she's sold to date.

Leave of absence

Young started reading for her bachelor's of science degree in civil engineering in 2014, however, due to financial difficulties, applied for a leave of absence.

"It's US$10,000 per year and I am not rich, I come from humble beginnings," she said. Although she secured funding from the SLB, it was only $390,000 per semester.

"In my second semester, I got deregistered but I got a $300,00 grant which helped to clear up the balance and I was able to re-register. And my mother took a loan and we used that money to register," Young explained.

The Holy Childhood High alumna successfully completed her first and second years of study. But things took an awful turn in her second semester of third year.

"I was working on my final year project, and when it was exam time I wasn't able to register. Ever since I started, I always tried to get help but nothing worked out that semester. So all my progress for my final year went down the drain because I wasn't able to register before exams," she told THE STAR.

So she has turned to her art pieces, showcasing them on social media. She said she paints daily, mostly small portraits. Her latest piece titled 'Andrew Holness: Man of the People', has been gaining attention. Young is hopeful she will garner the funds by January 2021 at the start of the new semester.