Lime Tree Lane resident overcomes odds to become teacher

Growing up in the inner-city community of Lime Tree Lane, off Bay Farm Road in St Andrew, there was not much for Sharfua Fearon and her family to smile about.

This was contrary to the popular sitcom of the same name that was broadcast on the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (now TVJ) from 1988 to 1997.

"I witnessed the harsh realities of teenage pregnancy and young boys struggling. It was an environment where I couldn't find any role models, but saw individuals that I did not want to become. I was determined to create a different path," Fearon said.

Part of Fearon's early childhood was spent in England with her parents, Rose McDonald and Donald Fearon, and two sisters. But upon their repatriation to Jamaica, the family encountered challenges.

"My dad, who was the primary breadwinner, encountered difficulties, and my mom, who faced health issues, had challenges maintaining stable employment due to her illness. This period taught me the importance of resilience," she said. Fixated on this purpose in order to positively impact her community, Fearon began her quest in 2016, after completing secondary studies at Tivoli Gardens High School, where she only managed to sit three subjects in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

"I got assigned to do more [subjects]; however, my parents were not able to pay for them. My form teacher, Mr Carl Walters, only paid for three," she related, noting her passes in principles of business, food and nutrition, and electronic document preparation and management. Initially, her potential career paths were narrowed down to becoming a lawyer, accountant or nurse. But it may have been fate, or God's divine intervention, that led her to the classroom.

"About a year after leaving high school, I received a call from someone who proposed enrolling me in an early-childhood education course at Olympic Gardens HEART Trust. Initially, I declined the offer, as I had never considered teaching as my calling. However, the individual was persistent in wanting to include me, and I eventually decided to sign the application papers and complete the course," Fearon recounted. A year later, a door was opened.

"My mother was doing laundry for her friend, Pastor Ruthlyn Stoner, who inquired if she knew anyone looking for work as a school secretary. My mother mentioned this to me, and I decided to attend the interview. Surprisingly, I got the job as the school secretary. Minutes after being hired, the principal approached me and said, 'The Lord told me you didn't come here for this, go into that classroom.' I was taken aback, because I wasn't initially inclined toward teaching. However, from that day on, I've been in the classroom," she told THE STAR.

In 2017, Fearon initially enrolled in a pre-college programme, but due to financial constraints, she was forced to defer.

"During that period, I attended evening classes elsewhere and successfully completed my CSEC subjects. With this achievement, I returned to St Joseph's Teachers' College to commence my academic programme," Fearon said. Now, five years later, she is a testament of the grit and innate desire to achieve. Fearon was also conferred with her Bachelor of Education degree in primary education.

"In my first two years of college, my attendance was extremely poor due to financial constraints that limited my ability to cover transportation expenses. Completing my degree held great significance for me, as I am the first in my family to achieve this milestone. My determination to attain what my parents couldn't is a driving force," said a beaming Fearon.

She returned to her childhood home at Lime Tree Lane to do her graduation photo shoot, with "immense excitement and profound sense of pride", as she deems herself a "product of the ghetto".

"This degree means a lot to me because it represents the start of what's to come in my journey. I returned to my community with a heart full of hope and a mission to be a shining example for the young boys and girls who face similar obstacles. Together, we will break down the stereotypes and barriers that have held us back for far too long," she said.