GoodHeart | Educator Doreen Richards reflects on long-standing career

Doreen Richards did not initially choose teaching as her career. Instead, it chose her. Fresh out of university in 1982, her dream was to become a dentist. However, two significant events altered her path: the scholarship she eagerly awaited for dental school did not materialise, and she fell madly in love with the classroom. Recently, as she accepted a cheque from First Global Bank (FGB) with the words “You are debt FREE,” Doreen was overcome with emotion. Reflecting on her more than four-decade-long journey in the classroom, she couldn’t help but smile.

First Global Bank, in honour of education week, randomly paid the outstanding loan amounts for teachers, including Richards, as a way of giving back to the profession.

In a recent interview, Richards recalled the moments that led to her joining the noble profession. “After I did my science degree, I decided I was not going to teach because I was waiting to do dentistry, but the scholarship wasn’t ready. It so happens that my former principal at Immaculate kept calling me, asking, ‘Why don’t you come and try teaching?’, I said, ‘No, I don’t want to teach. I want to do dentistry.’” she said.

Noting the power of prayer, she reminisced, “I always prayed, saying, Lord, if it’s not dentistry, put me where I feel fulfilled, where I’d be happy.” Eventually, she answered the call.

After her first week at Immaculate Conception High, Richards admitted that she hadn’t initially known she wanted to teach. However, she was so thrilled with the profession that she never left.

One of two educators fêted by FGB – the banking arm of the GraceKennedy Financial Group – Richards noted that while it is a rewarding profession, it has its challenges. “I think some of the times you want to have the resources to do what you want to do, so that can be a challenge. Sometimes you want to make the subject areas far more exciting, but you’re limited by what you can get your hands on.

She notes that her students are very much involved and want to learn, going as far as they can go. “ There’s just something about seeing my children excited about learning, seeing them want to achieve. That just does it for me, especially the ones that make a turn for the good,” she added.

She recounts the story of a former student who had decided to “resign from the chemistry and physics exam” with the intention of not attending their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Stunned yet supportive, Richards took her by the hand, encouraging her that she did not have to study everything to pass the exam; she only needed to know enough to go in and do her absolute best.

This was less than two months before the examination. With Richards’ coaching, she gave it her all. What was once a flustered child saying, “I can’t do it,” in less than six weeks, had changed her tune.

“She pass the two exam, enuh, and went on to Portmore Community College to do CAPE in the sciences and get ones (distinction), but she was just at a space where she felt she could not do anything. She came back and said, ‘Miss, thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself!’

FGB New Kingston Branch Manager Mishka Samuels Francis, in handing over the commemorative cheques, noted the vital role teachers have in helping our nation’s youth excel. “As we celebrate Teacher’s Day and, by extension, Education Month, we really thought of a way to give back to the ones who have the greatest profession of all. It was an easy decision to delight our teachers.”

First Global Bank repaid Richards’ loan balance in full, totalling over JMD $400,000 in loan repayments.

As part of their ongoing commitment to positively impact the communities they serve year-round, First Global Bank is giving back to celebrate 22 years of banking in Jamaica. This initiative aims to empower both their clients and communities to go further.