A shining example of determination - Ashaud Shirley rises above circumstances and excels

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ASHAUD Shirley hails from the volatile community of Glendevon, St James. However, he is ensuring that he does not become a victim of his surroundings.

As such, Shirley is using education and the assistance of Scotiabank to realise his dreams.

This ambitious young man aspires to attend the University of the West Indies to study chemical engineering and, with his excellent grades and persistence, he is well on his way.

Shirley was a 2006 recipient of a Scotiabank scholarship and has not looked back since, as his excellent grades kept him on the scholarship roll for the last six years. He received seven distinctions in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations and two credits. He recently sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations and is awaiting the results. He will move on in sixth form at Munro College, come September.

"They (Scotiabank) have given me a great opportunity to go to school and achieve my best, and I am really grateful," the soft-spoken young man said.

When quizzed about the secret to his academic success, Shirley was quick to point out that there is no secret to his success.

"The mistake a lot of people make is that they judge you based on where you are from. It is not really where you are from, as it relates to someone's success, just the mindset of the individual. I have a vision of success, and I want to be something in life, and I would encourage every young man out there to just want to achieve and you will achieve once you believe that you can do it," Shirley affirmed.

Scotia's assistance

As a part of their celebration of Jamaica 50, the Scotiabank Group on Tuesday made bursary presentations to seven students in the bank's Metro North region, from St James, Westmoreland, Hanover and St Ann.

The students are a part of Scotiabank's special Jamaica 50 education-assistance project and will collectively receive bursaries amounting to $750,000 towards their secondary and tertiary education. The seven students are among 50 students across the island that will receive bursaries that range from $50,000 to $150,000 each.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com