Building dreams, baby bump and all - Pregnant teen ready to take construction industry by storm

Despite sporting a baby bump, 18-year-old Clarendon native Asheba Johnson refused to let pregnancy stand in her way of breaking barriers.

Earlier this month, she proudly participated in a HEART/NSTA Trust certification programme in masonry, determined to prove that ambition knows no limits.

After completing the theory sessions last month, Johnson showed up at the Ebony Park HEART Academy, ready to showcase her block-laying skills as part of the Mocho Division Youth Empowerment Initiative. Her pregnancy wasn't about to stop her from pursuing her dream.

"It was important for me to do the practical because I've always wanted a certificate in construction. I saw this as my opportunity to achieve it, so I gave it my best shot," said Johnson, whose baby is due in a matter of weeks.

At just 18, Johnson stands at a remarkable crossroads -- balancing the challenges of motherhood with her fierce determination to succeed in a male-dominated field. She grew up in Blackwoods, Clarendon, with her father who worked as both a farmer and construction worker.

"That's where I got the exposure," she said of her passion for construction. By the age of 16, she was joining him on construction sites and soon realised it was her calling.

"And it was just my thing. Mi nuh know if a 'cause mi grow up with the boys and rough one type of way, [but] I got to love it."

Her passion only grew stronger when she pursued construction technology at Lennon High School, where she earned a grade two in mechanical engineering. Confident in her abilities, she decided to push forward.

"I knew I had the potential to continue, so why not?" she said.

She rates her skills an impressive eight out of 10, stating, "I'm good with the measurement. I can read the tape quickly and on point, I can do the plumbing, flashing, and I can lay the blocks."

But as her due date approached, Johnson had doubts. Could she really handle the physical demands of the block-laying practical?

"I thought I couldn't do it," she admitted. "I was a little down and at one point I was like, 'I wonder if they were going to accept [me] since mi pregnant'. But I told myself that nothing beats a trial but failure, so I said I was going to try; if it work, it work, and that's what I did."

Far from being slowed down by pregnancy, Johnson is grateful to be one of the lucky ones who isn't hindered by fatigue. "I'm glad I'm not one of those mothers who feel weak and lazy. I always want to do something. I don't let pregnancy stop me," she said proudly.

Yet, it hasn't been an easy road. Johnson confessed to moments of doubt when she first found out she was pregnant, wondering if her dreams would have to take a back seat.

"I was like, 'If I'm going to sit down with baby now, I can't bother go college, can't go any further.'.... But my Auntie June always reminded me, 'It's not the end of the world. You can do it, because you've been doing it.'"

In addition to readying herself for the world of construction, Johnson has been attending classes on Wednesdays. Now, Johnson's future is brighter than ever. She plans to take a short break from work after her baby is born, but will jump back into the field in no time.

"I am planning on balancing that by spending time with my child. I have to be in my child's life. I'm going to take a little break from work for now, maybe until the baby is six months [old], but it won't be for long."

Looking ahead, Johnson has big dreams of pursuing tertiary education in construction management, and she plans to start next year. She already has one Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination and five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate passes under her belt. Her journey is just beginning, and nothing -- not even a baby bump -- can stop her.