One-legged teacher stands tall in the classroom

Despite being born with one leg, Annetta Garwood has never allowed her disability to limit or stop her from accomplishing her dreams and being the best teacher that she can be.

The 48-year-old, who has been a teacher for 22 years, was born without her left leg due to complications caused by a defective birth control pill her mother took while unknowingly pregnant with her. Despite her physical limitations, Garwood has managed to acquire her teaching diploma from the Shortwood Teachers' College, her bachelor's in education at the Northern Caribbean University, and her master's in curriculum development at The University of the West Indies. She told THE STAR that in order to excel both in her studies and as a teacher, she had to work twice as hard as an able-bodied person.

"I managed but it was challenging, because I am just on one leg and I have to endure more than a regular person," Garwood said.

The grade-three integrated science teacher at Hope Valley Experimental School was determined to succeed because of the joy she experiences while teaching and being able to mould young minds.

"In all honesty I love teaching. I love the fact that I am responsible for the education of tomorrow's leaders. I love doing things with them. I love the look on their faces when they say 'Miss, I like the lesson today' or 'Miss, I learnt a lot today'," she said smiling.

She added that she spends most of her time in class on her right foot with the aid of her crutches, which is physically demanding.

"I hardly sit. Most of the time I'm around in the classroom with them working. I am monitoring them, so most times I am up on my foot, and that's a challenge because I start having problems in my other foot, so I have to try to remember to sit," said Garwood. She told THE STAR that despite her accomplishments, sometimes she still feels like an outcast in society.

"I know I'm different and sometimes I don't feel as if I fit in anywhere, and it can be an emotional rollercoaster. A lot of times persons like me just want to feel accepted and want other persons to get to know us first, and not judge because of the disability," Garwood said. Her battles with acceptance started as a child, as she was sometimes bullied.

"I didn't have many friends because at that time, they [other children] didn't want to touch me and they used to call me 'Polio, polio mi nuh wah touch har' and that sort of thing," Garwood said. "It was sad sometimes, I didn't like it. I think I got aggressive at times and I would fight. I would fight and be aggressive because in my head, I would think that they are taking advantage of me because of my situation."

But even with crutches, Garwood always found ways to do things no one thought she could.

"I used to play everything. I used to play dandy shandy, I used to climb trees, I used to do every single thing. Put it this way, I found a way to do them, even Chinese skip. I found a way how to play netball. I did it my way, even though it probably nuh look like how it fi duh," Garwood said.

Garwood advised members of the disabled community not to limit themselves because of their difficulties.

"Be bold, because if you are closed in your shell no one will see you, no one will take you serious. you have to be bold and let them know that, hey this is me and I am capable of doing this thing," said Garwood.

She is also encouraging able-bodied persons not to judge a book by its cover and understand that, like them, physically challenged people are human beings with feelings and emotions who deserve both love and respect.