Jamaican nurse overcomes tough upbringing to excel

Despite her financial struggles, Abigail Moulton Chambers refused to let circumstances define her.

Born and raised in Spanish Town, St Catherine, she grew up watching her mother, a street vendor with only a primary school education, struggle to provide for her and her younger brother. Yet, in a home where resources were scarce, ambition was never in short supply.

She recalled mornings when flood warnings were issued, and her mother would hand her and her brother plastic bags to cover their shoes before sending them off to school.

"Mi ago see how long yuh ago tek fi come out yah an' go a school!" her mother would say, and they would run before she could utter another word, knowing that missing school was never an option. Some days, lunch was an uncertainty. Many times, Moulton Chambers had empty pockets, relying on the PATH for a meal. Before her mother could afford to build their family home, they lived in a cramped one-bedroom board house. But through it all, her mother's message was clear--education was the way out.

"She didn't have an education, so she wanted to ensure that her kids had an education," Moulton Chambers recalled. "She went all out, sought help wherever she could, and made sure we never missed a day of school."

That relentless drive became the foundation of Moulton Chambers' own determination. She vowed that while she was born in poverty, she would not remain in it. Yet, for all her ambition, she had little knowledge of how to move beyond high school. That changed when Jose Marti Technical High School hosted a career day, introducing her to the world of possibilities beyond her circumstances.

"It never dawned on me to become a nurse," she admitted. "All I knew was that I was willing to do anything to get out of my situation. But growing up, I always took care of my little brothers and sisters - I was like a second mother - so nursing just made sense."

Even after discovering her passion, another major hurdle arose: finances. She knew her mother couldn't afford university tuition, but with the support of her then boyfriend, now husband, she learned about student loans. He and her mother became her guarantors, allowing her to enrol at the University of Technology's Caribbean School of Nursing. There, she pursued her Bachelor of Science in nursing.

Following graduation, she secured a job at Spanish Town Hospital, and "While doing my practicals, that's where my love for nursing really kicked in."

"When I actually went into the hospitals as a student nurse, I realised [that] I couldn't see myself doing anything else. It literally changed my life."

However, the limited resources in the public healthcare sector began to wear her down. Feeling burnt out, she decided it was time for a change. She reached out to an agency that helped nurses migrate to the US. The agency assessed her qualifications and deemed her eligible to work abroad upon passing the necessary licensing exams. She passed her exam on her first attempt, and moved to the US last May.

Less than a year into her new role, she was honoured with the prestigious DAISY Award - an international recognition given to extraordinary nurses who demonstrate exceptional compassion and care to their patients and families. Now, Moulton Chambers is passionate about inspiring others who, like her, come from difficult circumstances. She wants them to know that success is possible, regardless of their background or limited resources.

"People who are successful in life are the ones who continuously stretch themselves beyond what they think is possible," she said. "You can't just stay in your little cubicle and say, 'A this mi born come see, so mi afi guh continue inna it.' No! To be successful, to achieve your dreams, you have to push yourself beyond what you think you're capable of."

Her story is proof that perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in oneself can break the cycle of poverty.