‘Gold is refined through fire and diamonds are formed under pressure’ - Dr Rashaun Stewart beats the odds to make family proud with academic excellence

At age 23, Rashaun Stewart is not only the first doctor in his family, but he is also the first in his family to complete tertiary education.

Thursday marked a monumental milestone for the new physician as he celebrated the culmination of a five-year journey with his pledging ceremony. Surrounded by family and friends, Stewart exuded a mix of relief and joy as he reflected on his arduous path to becoming a doctor.

"My pledging ceremony was great, it went really well," he shared with The STAR, taking a moment to step away from the restaurant where his family was gathered to celebrate his success.

"All the pomp and splendour after five long years, it was really worthwhile. One chapter is closing, another is yet to begin now."

For Stewart, the journey to becoming a doctor wasn't just about personal accomplishment. It represented a series of firsts for his family.

"Both my parents and my grandmother stopped at high school, so I'm the first to attend and graduate from university, and now to become a doctor," he said.

"From day one, in my formative years, my objective primarily has been predicated on becoming a doctor. The particular speciality I had interest in has changed over time ... but it's always been under the umbrella of medicine."

NO EASY JOURNEY

His academic journey wasn't without its challenges. Stewart completed a rigorous programme at The University of the West Indies, earning not only a bachelor of medicine and surgery but also a bachelor of medical sciences concurrently.

"It wasn't easy," he admitted, recounting disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters that tested his resolve.

"There was so much upheaval, a number of disruptions, and a great degree of calamity that unfolded through the five years that could have encumbered and stopped the journey at any point in time. I was left with a great degree of uncertainty, at some point worried about my ability to pass, based on the unfolding of turmoil," Stewart said.

The turmoil also included financial restraints. He almost missed exams, was almost evicted from the hall on which he resided and started semesters late. Balancing his studies with extracurricular activities was another hurdle.

"Medicine is just a singular facet of who I am," he explained. "Balancing time between medicine and my other interests proved difficult, but it's something I've been doing since my formative years."

Throughout his journey, Stewart leaned on a strong support system, especially his parents.

"They reassured me of why I started," he shared emotionally. "Their unconditional support played an invaluable role in me crossing the finish line."

He also highlighted the support he got from the US-based charity, Jamaica Awareness Association of California (JAAC), which has been a bastion of strength since he was in high school.

"Mr Patrick Williams from JAAC and the other scholarship donors such as the Sagicor Foundation really swooped in as my miracles to lift these burdens," related Stewart.

RETURN TO ROOTS

The path to success also had heartaches. Stewart reflected on friends who were lost along the way.

"It was a harsh reminder of our mortality," he said, recalling instances where fellow aspiring doctors passed away unexpectedly.

"It hammered home that we're mortal, despite the almost messianic complex sometimes attributed to doctors."

He related that a close friend who was pursuing a degree overseas, died in a car accident.

"We had talked roughly a week before the car crash. And I found out he crashed when I saw a news article about it and that threw me off kilter for probably the remainder of the first year really. I was just going through the emotions," he shared.

Looking ahead, Stewart is set to begin his career as a general practitioner, with plans to specialise in the future. Born in Montego Bay, St James, and a Cornwall College old boy, he is set to return to where he was born - Cornwall Regional Hospital - to begin his medical career in August.

"As we see, gold is refined through fire and diamonds are formed under pressure," Stewart mused, reflecting on his challenges. "The pressures of life are actually catalysts for achieving excellence."