Visually impaired student defies the odds

Although she faced tremendous obstacles, Sashauna Brown, a visually impaired ward of the State, has emerged as one of Jamaica's top-performing students in the 2024 CSEC examinations.

Sashauna, who passed eight subjects and earned the title of top girl for her region, was among the wards recognised at the Child Protection and Family Service Agency's 13th Annual Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony on Thursday. Sashauna dedicated herself to her studies despite the pressures and expectations placed upon her.

"Preparing for CSEC was challenging because a lot of persons expected me to get ones and twos, and I started to wonder--what if I don't get these?" she admitted. "I studied past papers, reviewed my math notes, asked volunteers to help read textbooks for me, and did group studies with my friends--mainly at night, because I'm a night person."

For Sashauna, the journey to academic success was far from easy. Losing both parents at a young age, she became a ward and faced significant educational setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"She missed almost two years of online classes because of challenges accessing the platform in Clarendon," said Sean Harvey, guidance counsellor at the Jamaica School for the Blind. "But when she returned to face-to-face classes, she immediately placed first in her class. She literally picked up from where she left off."

Michelle Golding-Hylton, who played a key role in getting Sashauna enrolled at the Jamaica School for the Blind, commended her resilience.

"Sashauna lost her mother when she was around seven years old, and then her father was murdered," Golding-Hylton shared. "But I knew she had potential, and I was determined to get her into school. She is proof that with the right support, no obstacle is too big." Sashauna recalled that she was in Clarendon when the results came out.

"My friend opened his results first and said, 'Wow, Brown, no strings, only ones and twos.' I put down the tablet and started to cry," she said. Currently a grade 12 student at Meadowbrook High School, Sashauna has her eyes set on an even bigger future.

"I want to study social work and business. I want to become a social worker and an entrepreneur. I will open my own clothing line, restaurants, and more businesses," she declared.