Success from humble beginnings

Locksley Wallace, a 19-year-old resident of the Central Village community is true testimony that hard work, dedication and determination pay off. This second-year chemical-engineering student of Kettering University in Michigan is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree while working at the Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd, as an intern.

His journey to success began at the White Marl Primary and Junior High School and was one of hardship and struggle. Living in a small house with only one bed, he, his mother and six other siblings made it work. He recalls missing only about three days of primary school even though his mother was unemployed the whole time.

Whenever they could not afford it, his elder sister Josephine, the only contributor to the household at the time, made sacrifices to send him to school. Even with her help, he recalls only getting one textbook throughout his time at primary school.

While preparing for the Grade Six Achievement Test, he determined that he was going to put his best foot forward, studying early in the mornings when everyone in his home was asleep, just to get the peace and quiet he needed. His hard work paid off when he was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation to attend Kingston College. His families’ worries about school fees, books and other academic material were over. The Scotiabank scholarship covered his school fees, uniforms and text books for seven years of high school.

As a Scotiabank scholar, he got the opportunity to interact with other students who were undergoing similar hardships and this motivated him even more. He was also mentored and received exposure to the world of work at the Bank. Determined to keep making his mother proud, he sat 10 subjects in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) examinations and was overjoyed when he received 10 distinctions in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, Social Studies, Information Technology and French.

“My motivation to excel is my family,” he said. “Seeing the constant struggle and economic challenges they had to endure to make sure I was provided for and received a good education constantly motivates me to strive for excellence. I want to have the opportunity to, in turn, take care of them, show how much I appreciate their sacrifices, and help them to live a comfortable life.”

pre-college programme

After his excellent performance in the CSEC exams in fifth form, Locksley was then promoted to sixth form where he was introduced to a pre-college programme at Kettering University. He took the entrance exams and the rest is history.

Even though at the time he was aspiring to get into medical school at the university and had all the qualifications to do so, he decided to take up the opportunity to study chemical engineering overseas. Locksley has been competing with some of the brightest minds from across the globe and has retained his high standards, placing second in his class of 32 students. He has maintained a constant 3.9 grade point average every term.

In return for the great support he has received, Locksley’s aspiration is to help poor youngsters from disadvantaged communities like the one from which he hails.

“There are so many talented young men and women in these communities but only a few people are interested and willing to work with them,” he lamented. “All they need is the opportunity to shine.”