FIVE years ago, Nerine Lowe was fed up with her then 13-year-old daughter Georgon Gardiner’s uncontrollable and disrespectful behaviour, and decided to call Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) for help with the teenager.

Georgon, who was a student of Ardenne High School at time, was taken from their home and placed in State care at a children’s home for about a year.

That plea for help from Lowe proved to be a saving grace for young Georgon, as she quickly began to adjust her behaviour and chart a more positive path forward. Settling down and learning to listen to and heed advice from adults, she last year secured eight passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Last Thursday she was among 52 students who are wards of the State, or former wards of the State, awarded by CPFSA for excelling in their external examinations last year. Seeing Georgon, now 18 years old, being recognised for her academic achievement, made Lowe beam with joy.

“I am so happy. She was a ward of the State but afterwards she came back home and was reintegrated. She was rebellious and unruly, and I felt that as a parent I had was to protect her from herself and so I asked for assistance, and they put her in State care.

“It transformed her and she became very disciplined and well-mannered. She changed a lot. As a mother, I would want to see her continue her studies and excel to the highest heights, because I believe in education,” Lowe said, adding that as a resident of the tough inner-city community of Callaloo Mews in St Andrew she sees many children face negative influences and fall by the wayside as a result.

According to the mother, many children in inner-city communities would start doing well if the State was allowed to intervene and set them straight.

“My daughter is back home now and is more ladylike. She is more manageable to me. She is doing a little job and is furthering her studies at the tertiary level. She never used to listen to us. When you talked to her, she was rude; she was very feisty and out of control.

“Personally, as an inner-city mother, I see where there are a lot of children whose parents need to ask for intervention from the CPFSA. They placed her in a children’s home — the City of Refuge — and every week I journeyed there because I was willing to work with her for a change. At City of Refuge she had an excellent house mother…Miss Linton,” Lowe told the Jamaica Observer.

Georgon, during her interview with the Observer, said she’s proud of her achievement and transformation.

The aspiring marine biologist admitted that a lot of distractions and negative influences caused her to act out when she was younger.

“There was a lot of drama in my community. I didn’t know how to deal with all of that and I didn’t think I could confide in my mom, and when my mom found out about certain things, it was just dramatic. I had a problem with the boys, but I learned my lesson,” she said.

While in State care she said she learnt how to not get worked up over unnecessary things.

“I used to be angered easily, and I was just doing the most. I was influenced by friends and my surroundings. They offered me counselling at the home and therapy — that taught me to just relax and handle situations differently and learn to walk away,” she said.

She has a dream, and she intends to do everything in her power to achieve it.

“I want to go into medicine, really microbiology, virology and pathology. I am into that, and I am also thinking about neurosurgery, too. I don’t see anything distracting me from achieving that because I love it and I am very passionate about it. I will do everything I can in my power to go to medical school so I can get that.

“To young people, don’t be too quick to turn to anger. Be careful what you surround yourself with because simple stuff like music and some passive things can get to your head. Don’t fall in that trap,“ the 18-year-old said. “Be careful what you intake, and don’t be too quick to judge and get angry because that just leads to bad decisions that you will regret.

“Definitely, you need to listen to your parents,” she said, sharing that she is currently working with a business process outsourcing company to help pay for her studies.

Laurette Adams-Thomas, chief executive officer of CPFSA, imparted to the youngsters that no matter where they are coming from, they should always remember that they are not defined by where they started but by the dreams they dare to chase.

“It brings me immense joy and pride to welcome you all to the CPFSA’s 13th annual educational achievement awards. Today, we celebrate an extraordinary group of young people. You are our champions who have defied the odds, persevered through life’s challenges, and have emerged victorious in your academic pursuits.

“This year, a total of 153 people in State care sat our secondary examinations, including 135 who took the CSEC exams, 19 who sat CAPE [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination], and others who pursued vocational qualifications. Of these, 52 of our brightest scholars who sit before us have achieved passes in four or more subjects — 48 of them were at the CSEC level and four at the CAPE level.

“Each of you are all like a shining example of what is possible when dedication meets opportunity… Awardees, I encourage you to continue to take pride in yourselves and in the hard work that has brought you this far. In the words of the great Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’ Your journey is just beginning, and the knowledge you gain today will shape the future of Jamaica, land we love. As you move forward, never be afraid to dream big and let no one tell you that the dreams you have can never be achieved,” she said.

The top boys and girls for the respective regions of CPFSA were also recognised. Ranae Hood, Janovia Henry and Rohan Weir were the top students in the south-east region, which covers St Thomas, St Catherine, Kingston, and St Andrew; Sashauna Brown and Jesse Lee Gunn topped the southern region, which includes Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth; Lashawn Williams and Trevaughn Wilson were the top students in the western region, which covers Hanover, St James, Westmoreland, and Trelawny; and Tavay Reid was the top girl in the north-east region, which covers St Mary, St Ann and Portland. No award for top boy was given in the north-east region.

The top boy award for CAPE went to Jehvoun Byfield from the south-east region.