Life has not been easy for most of Sashauna Brown’s 18 years on Earth.

Born blind, she became a ward of the State when she was nine, a year after her mother died from heart disease. Four years later, she lost her father to gun violence.

“When my mother died I had no motivation, but somehow I never really lost all hope, despite everything,” she told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday after being rewarded for outstanding academic achievements.

Sashauna, who passed seven subjects last year in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations — four at grade 1 and three at grade 2 — was among 52 wards of the State recognised by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) for academic excellence and success in four or more subject areas in CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations.

Additionally, Sashauna, now a sixth former at Meadowbrook High School in St Andrew, copped the Ministry of Education’s southern region top girl trophy.

Beaming with pride, she collected her trophy and other prizes during the CPFSA 2024 Educational Achievement Awards ceremony at Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew.

“Growing up visually impaired in State care was difficult, because I faced a lot of discrimination and sometimes I felt different from the other kids, but I didn’t make that stop me. I continued,” she told the
Observer after accepting her awards.

“I was placed at the Elsie Beaman Children’s Home and Annie Dawson Children’s Home. Life is still challenging, but I am here grateful,” she said.

“To pass my exams, I studied past papers, I motivated and believed in myself. I also worked with my friends to study and my teachers, who gave me notes and explained to me the things I didn’t understand to complete my school-based assessment. I am now planning to go to university to pursue a degree in social work,” shared Sashauna, who is originally from Reckford District in Clarendon.

“I am the first graduate in my family. I want to be there for my siblings. I want to be a social worker and entrepreneur,” added Sashauna, who previously studied at The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Michelle Golding Hylton, head of the Integrated Department at The Salvation Army School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said she was overwhelmed by Sashauna’s achievement and progress.

According to her, Sashauna is one of the many great people who have passed through the school.

“It is very good that she is recognised for her hard work,” the teacher said while expressing hope that visually impaired Jamaicans will receive more opportunities to be successful in life.

“I hope visually impaired people in Jamaica are given the opportunity not only to be recognised but also to be employed. A number of them have graduated from The University of the West Indies and are still unemployed, despite the fact that they have a first degree and a master’s.

“The Government should stand up to the Disabilities Act and provide employment for these persons who have shown that they have worked hard and can be a part of mainstream society. Private sector organisations and Government organisations should employ at least a percentage of persons with disabilities,” Golding Hylton argued.