Sixteen-year-old Chavelle Solomon of Supenaam fought against tremendous odds to attain a secondary education and then excel at the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination with twenty-one subjects (19 grade ones and 2 grade twos).
Chavelle’s story inspires and she hopes to become a doctor or dentist through a Government Scholarship. Recounting her many challenges, Chavelle took the Sunday Stabroek on her short but inspirational 16-year-old life’s story.
Born and raised in Region One in Hosororo Village, Chavelle was cared for by her grandparents. At the time her mother was away studying at Cyril Potter College of Education [CPCE] in Georgetown. Chavelle began her school life at the Hosororo Nursery School and completed her first year of primary school education in Mabaruma. She moved to the Essequibo Coast with her parents and continued her primary education at Good Hope Primary School. At the National Grade Six Examination she attained 509 marks and secured the sixth spot for that region. Chavelle opted to complete her secondary education at Anna Regina Secondary School.
Recounting the numerous challenges she encountered, Chavelle identified commuting as one of the more difficult ones she has had to experience to date.
“I had to travel from Supenaam to Anna Regina. In the nights when I am attending lessons my parents have to hire [a] car for me to reach home at Supenaam,” Chavelle related.
She said that her mother’s monthly salary was not sufficient to cover all of her [Chavelle’s] expenses, and her Dad’s income as a boat captain was never guaranteed. “My parents have been under financial stress since the transportation and lesson fees combined with providing for four children is very high. My home is situated quite a distance from the main road… I have no access to [grid] electricity,” Chavelle said.
Chavelle says her home is equipped with a solar power fixture but its reliability is contingent on the weather. Whenever it rains, the reduced solar powered battery drastically affects her studies.
“The rain usually causes the solar battery to be depleted faster hence my computer and phone cannot be charged, therefore my SBA’s, studies and assignments were held back and couldn’t be completed due to lack of internet access,” Chavelle explained.
Her mother, Dorinda Roberts, and dad Christopher Roberts, are both proud of their daughter’s achievements. “We are super proud of her… through her sacrifices, she made Essequibo proud and she got our support… we wish for our daughter to get a scholarship so she can continue to shine,” her parents said. Chavelle hopes to secure a scholarship to further her studies in the medical field.
