Young teacher moves from poverty to enriching lives

As a mathematics teacher, 21-year-old Thorn Francis has impacted several young lives thus far in his short career.

And he is adamant that with strength and determination, he has much more to do.

Growing up in Pedro River, St Ann, there was no father in his life, and his mother was a deaf mute, so the task of raising him fell to another relative.

"I was raised by my maternal grandmother but I live in an extended family home, surrounded by aunts and uncles. I was the only child for my mother, but I wasn't raised as an only child," he explained. His mother got registered with the St Ann Poor Relief Department and so became eligible for some form of assistance. As a youngster, this existence was not easy for Francis emotionally, despite the extended family support. In fact, it was left to the St Ann Parish Council (now Municipal Corporation) to assist with sending him to school. But he has no complaints.

"For me, life has been a blessing. I did not know I would reach this far so quickly," Francis admitted. Some of the blessings that he refers to came with academics, as Francis did well in his Grade Six Achievement Test to earn a place at Ferncourt High School.

He excelled there and upon graduating in 2017, he was blessed even more when he was awarded a scholarship by the education ministry to attend The Mico University College. Francis explained that he was at home one evening when a little voice repeatedly said, "Check your email, check your email".

"And I was like, but mi ah nuh businessman, so wha mi a check email fah?" he joked. Nevertheless, he got some credit for his phone and accessed his email.

"As I opened it up and scrolled down, I saw the email, 'Congratulations, you have been awarded a scholarship and you must come in on Friday at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston'. I paused for a minute and I said, 'God, you are God'."

Francis entered Mico in 2017 and after graduating, accepted a post to teach mathematics at Marcus Garvey Technical in his home parish last September, teaching grades nine and 11.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The phrase 'It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom' is displayed on his WhatsApp profile, emphasising the importance he has attached to his profession. Using his experience as a launching pad, Francis has also started doing motivational speaking so he can encourage others. But his ambitions don't stop there. Next year, he wants to begin studying media and communication.

"I love the media, I want to work on radio stations, I would also like to be host on TVJ's Smile Jamaica. My greatest admiration is for Neville Bell and Simone, I love them. I'm working to replace Neville Bell because he says he is getting old," he joked. But he won't be giving up teaching.

"I would try to see how best I can balance both lives. I love teaching and I would not want to move away from it," he said.