Sweet-I graduates from SVGCC; another dream realized

Sweet-I Robertson realized one dream in 2014 when she was admitted to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) and on Tuesday, she achieved another dream by graduating.

At the graduation ceremony held at the Victoria Park in Kingstown, the young woman was beaming from ear to ear, although she admitted to SEARCHLIGHT that she was not feeling her best that afternoon.

Robertson, who is a quadriplegic, lost mobility from her chest down in 2009, when she was caught in the crossfire between two rival gangs, while returning home from a school function near her home town of Chateaubelair.

Robertson, who studied Sociology, Literatures in English and Communication Studies at the SVGCC Division of Arts, Science and General Studies (DASGS), said in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday that manoeuvering around the college was a bit difficult at first, but things improved with the intervention of the staff.

The 24-year-old said while she made friends at college, it was “a bit tough” finding persons who had the same interests as she did.

She was accompanied to college most days by her mother, Claforna Robertson, who she said was her strength while at school, as well as her biggest motivator.

“Sometimes I’ll be there, sit down in a corner, not saying anything and she would come and she would just poke me to speak up. She go just push me overall,” Robertson said.

The young woman is hoping to read for an undergraduate degree in psychology, and it is her belief that she could have a positive impact in that area.

Robertson, however, said the implementation of that dream is still in the discussion phase, as her mother does not want to travel.

She thanked God, her mother, her sisters Rachel and Racquel Robertson, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, his wife Eloise Gonsalves and the staff at the SVGCC for helping her achieve her dream.(CM)