Seaview teen eager to start classes in Canada

Ambitious Seaview Gardens teenager Uhraine Miller is settled in Canada and is eager to start classes.

The 18-year-old, who arrived in the country on April 18, is slated to begin classes at NorQuest College in the city of Edmonton on May 8. The teenager had reached out to this publication to ask the public for assistance to fund his studies. A GoFundMe account surpassed the CDN$20,000 (approximately $2.3 million) that was needed for him to begin his diploma programme. Speaking with the news team, Uhraine expressed gratitude for all the help.

"I want to thank THE STAR, TVJ and other media houses who highlighted my story. I also want to thank each and everyone who came on board to make this happen. I am appreciative of every word of encouragement. I am here and I have a lot to do now as I owe it to all who assisted me. This is definitely a dream come true because just a few months ago, I didn't know how this was going to work out," he said.

In previous interviews, Miller said that among his goals was to secure a solid education and career to rid his family of poverty, and to take care of his mentally ill mother.

He got a chance to catch up with her before he left the island and said the experience was unforgettable.

"My mother hugged me for the first time and that meant a lot to me. This hug felt different from other hugs that I have gotten. The entire moment was remarkable. I told her I was going away for a while and she had a basic idea of what I was doing. She told me that she had seen the TV interview and everything just felt genuine. I know that I am going to be in a better position where I can take care of her," Miller said.