Drive to succeed overcomes community stigma

TASHEPHIA GREEN grew up in a single-parent household, where she was constantly reminded that education is the key to success. She was raised in an inner-city community in St Andrew, where her drive to succeed far outweighed the stigma associated with the area. This, coupled with her mother’s constant encouragement, fuelled her drive to succeed.

Green completed her studies at the Mona Heights Primary School, and later graduated from Ardenne High School, where she excelled academically.

Her latest achievement is to complete her studies, with honours, at the Mandeville-based Northern Caribbean University (NCU), where she was the president of the graduating class of 2024.

“Growing up, life was incredibly challenging. My mom struggled to provide even the most basic necessities, often unsure where to find lunch money for me or how to cover the light bill, which meant our electricity was cut off frequently,” Green recounted. “Additionally, with my dad not being a constant presence in my life, my mother had to make do with whatever she had.”

This gave Green a deep responsibility to succeed. “My mom’s sacrifices and struggles made it clear that I had to give my all, as I only had one chance to make something of myself. Her unwavering dedication and love were the driving forces behind my determination to excel. I am profoundly grateful for her sacrifices, which have inspired me to aim higher and make my mark,” Green related.

Despite the obstacles, Green has never lost sight of her goals. Her fascination with television crime series, such as NCIS and Criminal Minds, as a child, ignited a passion for justice and helping others, leading her to pursue a degree in psychology, with a minor in forensic science at NCU.

“Honestly, when I was younger, I saw myself being a lawyer or an actuarial scientist. It was not until a conversation with my guidance counsellor in grade 11 [which] made me even consider psychology in the first place. I like how psychology can address the behaviours of those around me, and, in a sense, give reasoning and treatment for such behaviour,” Green said.

Green wants to help change the narrative and get individuals the help that they need. “The knowledge that I have gained from my amazing lecturers will allow me to offer empathetic support and effective interventions for individuals facing psychological challenges. By combining my academic insights with practical application, I hope to make a meaningful and positive impact in both individual lives and the broader community,” she said.

QUEST FOR SELF-DISCOVERY

As an only child, Green has worked hard to make her mother, Kerry Ann Henriques, an alumna of NCU, proud. Her dedication has been rewarded with consistently high achievements such as that of magna cum laude honour category each year, thus maintaining outstanding academic performance.

“I enrolled at NCU during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a time when I was struggling with depression and feeling lost, as if I was standing still while time moved on. My mother, who graduated from NCU in 2017, believed that the university could help me rediscover myself and rebuild my relationship with God. Looking back, she was absolutely right,” Green said.

Adjusting to life away from home and in a new environment, she said, was challenging, but it pushed her out of her comfort zone and contributed to her growth into the young woman she is today.

“A significant standout moment for me was when I served as president of the Psychology Students’ Association at NCU and had the opportunity to meet with the leading representative for the Clarendon and Manchester division of the Jamaica Psychological Association,” Green recalled.

“During our discussion about my plans for the students, the commendations I received for my passion and dedication to psychology made me realise that I was indeed on the right path in my career,” she said.

Green is now on the brink of an exciting new chapter, as she is working towards her goal to pursue a PhD in psychology, with a fast track to forensic psychology. This journey, she said, is more than just an academic pursuit; it is a deeply personal mission to make a meaningful difference in the world as a forensic psychologist.

Beyond academics, Green has taken on various leadership roles at NCU, including serving as the STEP representative (freshman adviser), and a senator for the United Student Movement. She has also contributed as a tutor for statistics and computing I and II, helping her peers to excel in these subjects.

Her passion for giving back to the wider community is equally commendable. She has coordinated mentorship programmess for at-risk youth through the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) and organised conflict resolution workshops with PMI and UNICEF’s Youth Mentorship Programme. Additionally, she has assisted numerous students in preparing for their CXC mathematics and English language exams over the years.

Commenting on her role as president of the NCU graduating class of 2024, Green said, “It is a role that challenged me in ways I had not anticipated, but it also taught me a lot about myself and how to navigate difficult situations. Throughout this journey, I have grown both personally and professionally, learning how to lead with empathy, manage conflicts, and make decisions that impact others,” Green said.