Degree at last! - Sonja Robinson earns academic award after 10 years of trying

When Sonja Robinson sent out her first university application in 2013, she never thought it would take 10 years before she finally earned a degree.

The 31-year-old has encountered many speed bumps on the road but has refused to give up. On Wednesday, her eyes beamed with pride and her voice transmitted unspeakable joy after she walked across the stage at the Trench Town Polytechnic College in Kingston to collect her degree.

"I started out 10 years ago, where I applied to countless universities and colleges, and was actually accepted to every single one," Robinson said as she delivered the valedictory speech.

The Manchester native said she began pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), but did not complete the programme due to lack of funding.

"I started UCC three times. I sat in the class for two months and when it came to the mid term, I had to drop out because I couldn't find that second slot of money to actually pay the institution, so I started three times before I actually ended up in Trench Town," Robinson said.

She then enrolled to read for an associates degree in business administration at Trench Town Polytechnic College. Students have the opportunity to take courses online or attend classes on campus. Robinson, who lives in Mandeville, Manchester, said that given the distance from Kingston, the online option allowed her the chance to "step foot inside of a university".

Robinson told THE WEEKEND STAR that she has always wanted to attend university, but found it difficult because she lacks the financial resources.

"My dream was going into a university. A big, big university. I applied for Edna Manley [Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts] because I'm big on the arts, and got through, but the cry of everybody ... money issues," Robinson said.

She also received conflicting views from her family members when she told them she intended to pursue a career in the arts.

"Some were saying, 'Do your thing, you're good at that', while others were saying, 'You need to go into a field that actually makes money.' So I was being dragged from both sides and I ended up sitting out 10 years," Robinson said.

Proudly displaying her degree on Wednesday, Robinson said it is the reward for hard work and sleepless nights. Nonetheless, she is looking forward to climbing more rungs on the academic ladder.

"I am doing this for my three brothers. I'm really doing this so that they can see that they don't have to stop after high school. Even though it's a struggle, they can push forward and realise their dreams," Robinson said.