Keeping Education Alive

Saturday, April 02, 2005

by Zahra I. Airall

Finding new and inclusive ways to innovate and motivate the youth, the theme for the recently concluded T. N. Kirnon Primary School's week of activities was dubbed Keeping Education Alive: 2005.

On Thursday, March 31, 2005, the Wesleyan Holiness Church hosted the graduation ceremony for the Primary School for 43 graduates of the 2003-2004 academic year.  All the students, now settled in their respective secondary institutions were given the chance to officially conclude one era of their academic career, and continue their successful pursuit of higher education.

However, what made this ceremony even more memorable for some was the graduation of a particular student who has been heading the news ever so often - Piesha Paul.

Casting an admirable glance over the sea of young achievers, you would not easily identify any differences among them.  You would see smiles, laughter, frivolous chatter and excitement.  You would notice friends reflecting on past capers and hopeful encounters at their new schools.

What you would not notice is Piesha's slight impairment, her blindness.

While many people lose their ability to self-motivate and propel themselves in their daily lives, Piesha inspires her peers and others with an intrepid and belligerent approach to life.  When you meet Piesha, her personality consumes you and empowers you to believe that anything is possible.

Reinforcing this statement, director of the unit Sonya Osborne said she had been working with Piesha for 9 years, ever since she entered the unit at age three.

Sonya especially highlighted the amazing support from Piesha's mother Colleen Paul, who "made the decision to attend the school also. It was one of the most pleasant relationships of partnering with a parent.

Colleen did not come to only assist her child, but instead all of the children in the unit. She enrolled in the International Correspondence School and graduated there as a teacher's aide, and although she was never paid a salary, for six years she attended the unit on a daily basis to assist us along," Sonya related.

At the graduation ceremony, during special mention to those who assisted the graduates in their achievements, the unit made a special presentation to Colleen in gratitude for her relentless support.

As Piesha continues down her path of success, being a mentor to not only her counterparts at the Blind Unit, but to all she encounters, it will not be long before we hear more of her remarkable efforts, and those of students from the unit who are destined to follow after her.