Manchester youth earns family’s first degree

Being named valedictorian for this year's cohort at the Church Teachers' College did not come as a surprise to Kevaughn Knight. In fact, it was a goal that he had set for himself when he enrolled at the institution in 2017.

Knight, the first in his family to graduate from a tertiary institution, hails from Three Chains in Manchester.

"Fortunate for me, my father decided he would try with me, the second to last of six children, to send me to college. Given that privilege, I made sure that I focused to get where I needed to go. My mother's main responsibility for us was to provide domestic duty and to help as it relates to giving food, shelter, clothing, and shelter. My father took most of the responsibility to send me to school," Knight said.

The graduate said that his father, Donald Knight, is a self-employed tiler in the Cayman Islands, who tried his best to finance his education as he progressed from Charagape Elementary School to May Day High School and Manchester High School, then to Church Teachers' College.

He grew up with his mother Charmaine Porter, two siblings and two cousins.

"There were days when it was a bit tedious. There were days when, as a young man, you wished you were born in more fortunate circumstances, where things were much easier. At the same time, I tried to focus on the bigger picture, trying to ensure that you do the best that you can with what you have," the 22-year-old said.

That determined spirit was what pushed him during his journey at Church, as he committed himself to the task of breaking generational traditions. Ironically, his mother was a student at the same college a few years ago but dropped out in second year. He told THE STAR that he felt driven to get a tertiary-level education, which he sees as a guarantee for upward social mobility.

"It was literally the only way out; at that time I was not business-minded. It was the safest way out of poverty, it was the safest way out of having to struggle to make ends meet, having to make sure that you are able to afford what you want. It is the safest way out and I saw that as a way to escape."

He added that his choice to attend Church Teachers' College was based on the fact that he would not have to take a loan to complete his Bachelor's degree of education in English Language and Literature. His passion for teaching was overshadowed by the desire to pursue media and communication in his second year, but he was guided by his parents to finish the race he started.

"I was determined to attend university, and funny enough I remember making a proclamation at the beginning of that year, saying to myself and to God that I will not take a loan to go to university. It was ironic that I had applied for scholarships up to my third year. I don't know where me never apply to, and I never get not one, not even a bursary. But I still ended up ending college debt free," he said in between laughter.

Four years later, he is savouring the taste of success, having been named valedictorian and completing his studies with a 4.0 grade-point average. He is now making preparations to commence his master's degree in integrated marketing and communications at The University of West Indies, Mona, in September.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg for me, it feels good. It feels like I can see that what I've been working for has been manifested, but I know, at the same, that there is much more to accomplish. It is what I do after being named valedictorian; it's the what's next for me and I hoping that it will maintain the same level of brightness," Knight said proudly.