‘Finish what you start’ - Student mom returns to college after nearly three decades

At 47 years old, Lavana Shorter is redefining what it means to be an undergraduate. Now in her final year at G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, she recently completed her associate's degree - a milestone decades in the making. Her path, however, has been anything but linear.

Back in 1997, Shorter enrolled at G.C. Foster as a 19-year-old single mother.

I wasn't settled, mentally, physically or financially," she admitted.

Motherhood and survival came first, and school had to wait.

"Like many women, the dream of going to school took a detour for motherhood and survival. There was no one to say 'You can do it' or 'I'll help you through'. So I dropped out. But in 2023, I registered again - without knowing where the money for my tuition was coming from, just the hope to start over."

Her second act has turned into a full-blown mission. Through coaching, Shorter began working with children on the autism spectrum - an experience that led her to pursue online certification in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from Walden University. For her, it has been a journey of healing through learning, and teaching through healing.

Shorter wears many hats: mother of two, mental health advocate, ASD specialist, sports announcer, foundation CEO. From announcing at Portmore United matches to officiating local meets, her commitment to service in sport is unwavering.

Additionally, G.C. Foster's motto, Mens Sana in Corpore Sano - a sound mind in a sound body - perfectly captures her ethos.

Her educational pursuits were greatly enhanced after she became of of three recipients of the FHC Sports Education Scholarship, courtesy of First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union Limited. Introduced in 2023, the scholarship supports students with financial need who maintain a minimum "B" average and engage in community development.

She recalled being encouraged by her mentor, Caroney Gregory, to apply for the FHC Sports Education Scholarship, but hesitated.

"I said, 'Mi nah get it'. But God showed me I am favoured," she reflected.

The scholarship eased her financial burdens, allowing her to fully engage in academics, extracurriculars, and community outreach without the stress of balancing part-time jobs.

"Even when I got the call about the [scholarship] interview, it humbled me to not doubt the process. This award has lifted a major weight. It is motivation to reach my academic targets as well as my personal and professional goals and serve more. For this I am eternally grateful," she said.

Now pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Coaching and Sports Administration with a minor in Sports Management, Shorter shows no signs of slowing down. Her resume includes roles with the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission and as a high jump technical official - at a time when few women were involved in that space.

Her biggest supporters remain her grown children.

"So many times I wanted to give up, but my daughter would say, 'Mommy, you never gave up on us. We're not giving up on you'," she shared emotionally.

Through her foundation, Shorter is using sports to create inclusive interventions for children with special needs.

"Just giving a child the opportunity to kick or throw a ball, you immediately see how it helps to change their mental state. I want to educate them and incorporate sports into their development. Parents of my students have even encouraged me to start a track club and I'm seeing how it makes a difference in their lives and their children's lives," she shared.

"I used to say that if I didn't stop back then, I would be a professor now. But I've stopped questioning the timing. I am needed in a time like this."

Her advice to others: "Finish what you start," she says, "because in a race, what matters is that you finish with your head held high."