Eight buses a day: A UTech student’s journey to an NHT Construction Scholarship

FOR 24-year-old Jannel Muirhead, a third-year student at the University of Technology (UTech), her daily commute is a testament to her unwavering dedication. The Clarendon native faces the reality of navigating eight buses to and from the Papine, St Andrew campus. Despite the arduous journey, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of a bachelor of science degree in urban and regional planning.

The gruelling transportation routine is just one of the many obstacles she confronts on her path to securing her education. Growing up in the Muirhead household, where her mother works as a domestic helper and her father is a farmer, finances are often strained. However, Jannel’s ambition to develop innovative solutions for slum renovation, city expansion, and the modernisation of Jamaica’s transportation system fuels her drive to overcome these challenges.

“I want to be able to invest in the country’s infrastructure, and having a degree in urban and regional planning will equip me to do just that,” she stated.

Now, one significant hurdle has been cleared for Muirhead. Through the National Housing Trust (NHT), the dedicated UTech Student Ambassador has been awarded a scholarship to support the completion of her tertiary education. The NHT Construction Scholarship will provide Jannel with $1 million in funding for her undergraduate studies during the 2024/25 academic year.

Despite facing significant personal challenges, including the loss of her sister and her uncle – whom she credits as a key motivator – Jannel has persevered. Her uncle’s encouraging words to “get it done” constantly resonate with her.

“I am still in the process of discovering and understanding myself, growing into the woman I aspire to be: confident, classy, and strong,” she shared. “And I know I will achieve it because once I set my mind to something, I am determined to see it through.”

Muirhead was among ten deserving students selected for the prestigious scholarship from a competitive pool of over 200 applicants. She recently had the opportunity to share her vision and goals with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, during a courtesy call on Tuesday, April 8.