It took Allex Green seven years to complete his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Caribbean University and he remains proud of the journey which has taken him to this accomplishment.

He grew up in a rural community in Byndloss Cross Road in Linstead, St Catherine, with his mother and younger sister, before two other siblings and his mother’s common-law husband were added to the family dynamics. They lived in a one-room structure, which had the support of building blocks, but never lacked the love of family.

Unhappy with his living conditions, he would not allow bus drivers to drop him at his gate.

“I remember those times I used to come off the bus before the driver reach my yard gate and walk the rest of the journey.”

His mother, Jennifer Bartley, had to battle serious challenges supporting their needs.

“My mother had a warm time providing a meal for us daily. There were times when she had to decide which bills to pay and which bills to delay.”

Despite the challenges, she instilled certain principles in them from a tender age, such as the importance of education, especially if they wanted to escape poverty. For this reason she worked odd jobs to ensure that they had their books and went to school regularly.

The sacrifices made by Green’s mother, and her constant encouragement, laid the foundation for the 28-year-old to weather any storm to complete a major in accounting.

He had to work different jobs to fund his studies and depend on his college friends for food to achieve his goal. Despite illness, house break-ins, and failures, he was relentless in his pursuit for a better life.

“I am happy that I was able to graduate with a university degree, because it is a symbol that my mother’s sacrifice was not in vain and that her constant messages imploring us to take school seriously did not fall on deaf ears.”

Green’s journey at NCU started as a storeroom clerk after attending Willowdene High School and completing lower sixth form at José Marti Technical High School.

Initially he wanted to pursue mathematics with an emphasis on actuarial science; however, working a 12-hour job as a full-time student affected his health. Consequently, he switched to accounting to be able to strike a balance.

He said this of the situation: “This milestone of completing my bachelor’s degree in business administration (emphasis in accounting) at the Northern Caribbean University was almost only an imagination, as there were countless times when I felt like throwing in the towel. Working a full-time job and balancing school is no easy fleet. There were many times when I could not pay my tuition fees, but I held on to the never-changing hands of Jesus Christ, knowing that the Lord is able to do the impossible.”

“Many days I did not know where my next meal would come from. My poor diet due to financial constraints also led to health issues, but thanks to family, friends, church family, and NCU family who assisted me in all possible ways…This momentous occasion [graduation] is possible because of you. You were the wind beneath my wings,” said Green, who graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.07.

However, those were not the only difficulties he encountered, as when he relocated to Mandeville he could not pay his rent, and twice thieves broke into his apartment.

“They broke into my house twice when I was living in Mandeville. I was fearful for my life. I slept with a knife every night since the incident. Moving to a safer location was not an option because already I was grappling with paying my rent. I owed the landlord six months of rent. Not only that, but everywhere I lived in Mandeville I owe rent. Nuff [much] respect to all my landlords.”

Green even slept at Spanish Town Police Station at one point because, according to him, his landlord was being difficult.

Green also lost a loved one, and this situation affected his mental health.

He told the Jamaica Observer that of one the worst incidents to happen to him occurred on his 23rd birthday.

“I can recall that on my birthday – of all the days in the year – I fractured my hand and had to undergo surgery. My hand was in a cast for months. I don’t know how I [was] going to rally round, but [the] Duncans assisted me tremendously. [They] ensured I was ready for school, etc.”

He had his fair share of academic failure. He failed business law twice, but passed on the third attempt with an A-.

Among his achievements, he listed obtaining two scholarships and grants, being able to travel to four provinces in Canada in 2017 as a representative of NCU’s Student Association of Literature Evangelists (SALES) Club to participate in the Canada Youth Challenge Program; achieving an honour certificate; and working in the accounting industry as a general accounting officer.

Despite his tumultuous journey, Green sees his seven-year journey as God’s perfect number. The Bog Walk Seventh-day Adventist youth finds encouragement in God’s word found in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”