Incredibly strong

• UWI student cops first class despite losing parents in second year of studies

Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer

March 24, 2010 and April 23, 2010 will always be pronounced in the mind of Patrique Goodall.

In the short space of 27 days, the 22-year-old lost both her parents to illness. Nonetheless, Goodall, who was in her second year of studies, found the strength to dig deep and managed to graduate with first-class honours at the recent graduation held at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

Graduating with a 3.8 grade point average, Goodall, who studied media and communication, said the death of both parents left her devastated.

"My father, Patrick Goodall, was suffering with a brain tumour for two years and basically it was just me and my brother alone because his wife wasn't there. My brother, especially, had to be taking care of him seven days a week. It was really hard. He was just 17 at the time. He ended up failing his exam while he was attending the Montego Bay Community College. It was just a lot," she said.

"Even my mother, Sharon Thomas, having to buy his diapers and ensuring that he was properly fed, it was a lot for her. They weren't together, they had separated since 1994 but just the fact that he was the father of her children, she went all the way and that took a toll on her.

"She was diagnosed with an infection in the valve of her heart," she said. She died three weeks later.

"It was very discouraging knowing that my father was so sick and there was nothing I could do about it, but what he always instilled in me was the importance of persistence and determination," she said.

The graduate told The Gleaner that from an early age she learnt the importance of being disciplined as her parents ensured that they did their assignments and they accepted nothing but the best.

Education the key

"For him (her father), education was the key. When mother would come for my report, if I get 10 As and just a B, she is going to find out from the teacher why I got that one B. My father didn't have the opportunity to go to university, so he would go out of his way every year to ensure that I have my tuition fees; never had to borrow a loan, education for him was the foundation of everything," she explained.

"I knew I had to work hard and I worked for it," she declared.

"I wasn't even going to go to my graduation ceremony because it very hard knowing that none of my parents were going to be there, but it was my godmother, Janet Silvera, she has been my rock," she shared.