CMU student needs help to finish studies

From as early as age four, Udrick Tingle had a vision for himself and his family, having seen their struggles.

His plan was to one day elevate them from hardship, and now at 23, Tingle is closer to fulfilling his promise. But he owes the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) approximately J$400,000 and cannot complete his degree.

"I just want to finish school to be that change in my family, because it was never easy on us. I always had the determination to do things on my own from I was young, because I realised my mother's struggle, and I just started to have an independent mindset," he said. Since starting at the CMU in 2018, the Runaway Bay, St Ann resident has been trying to complete his degree on his own.

"I had a job before I applied for university, but when I moved to Kingston, I had to be travelling back and forth to St Mary for work, and it wasn't working out. Even after class, sometimes in the night I would have to be making my way down for work the next morning, so I ended up having to stop," Tingle revealed.

The money he currently owes must be paid in full for Tingle to resume classes in September. He was already forced to sit out a year.

"Last year when I applied for student loan for the year 2019 to 2020, I wasn't able to pay the student loan fee of J$17,000, so the loan was cancelled. I really didn't have the money to pay because things have been hard on me. I went in to speak with them to see if they could reactivate the loan, but COVID had just started and they said they weren't able to work on it at that time," he told THE STAR.

Tingle noted that his mother has eight children and "from I know myself, it has been her alone with us, no father in the picture". His mom is a domestic helper who doesn't make much and, he said, his siblings are either in school themselves, or have their own families to care for.

Tingle, who is reading for his degree in customs processes, freight forwarding and immigration, has been using his singing talent to garner some funds, but it's a drop in the bucket.

"I usually get bookings to sing at funeral and other events, but everything is slow now because of COVID. I get one and two bookings and I try to save a little from it," he said. In addition to elevating his family, Tingle said he also wants to ultimately change the mindset of youth in his community, as he would be the first male university graduate from there.

"Where I grew up was considered a ghetto and most young youths don't make it out. I also see the realities of the young males and I wanted to try everything to be like a motivation to them, or have some sort of funds to help change lives there," he said.

Those who are willing to help Udrick Tingle may donate to account #544352644 on the name Udrick Tingle at the National Commercial Bank's St Ann's Bay branch or the Scotiabank branch in the town, account #924202 under the name Tashi Parris, or https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-udrick-to-finish-university.