THE old adage, ‘if at first you don’t succeed, try again’ aptly describes the journey of Anissa McLeish, who has faced many insurmountable challenges. However, every time life hands her lemons, she makes lemonade, and today she is a motivation to other young people to be determined and resilient.

Walking along the sugar cane belt of Appleton Estate in Maggoty, St Elizabeth, McLeish had big dreams. She attended Siloah Primary School, and enjoyed sports day with her peers. McLeish was also an avid speller, and became a part of the National Spelling Bee competition.

“I loved learning new words. I was always excited about that, and I did extremely well in the competitions. I considered myself a top performer for the school as well, and I had my sights set on attending a high school in Manchester,” she said.

However, the universe had other plans for her, and she attended Maggoty High School in her parish. “I really did not regret the choice. My parents did not have it and I realised that if I had passed for a school in Manchester, it would have been even more financially difficult for my parents to fund my schooling. My dad was the main breadwinner, and his job was also seasonal,” McLeish said.

At Maggoty High School, McLeish had dreams of becoming a nurse, and she pursued all the subject areas required to fulfil her goals. In 2019, she applied and was successful in getting accepted to The University of the West Indies, Mona. However, she was not successful in gaining entry into the nursing programme as desired. She was told that after one year of study she could matriculate into the nursing programme.

“I completed the year, but the coronavirus came, and we all went home. That ended my journey at UWI. I applied to the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force. There was some hope there, but I was not successful. Eventually I settled for a job at Sutherland Global, and stayed there for three years,” McLeish said.

It was her mother, Symone Pryce-Samuels, who saw her daughter’s potential and decided that her daughter would complete her tertiary education. “She had gone through so much; but I told her that she cannot give up no matter what. She must continue trying and reach for her goals,” Pryce-Samuels said.

Bolstered by her renewed confidence, McLeish, who initially had no interest in teaching, was encouraged to apply to Church Teacher’s College in Mandeville. She was accepted, and for one year, she juggled her full-time job while earnestly trying to maintain her academic grades. And she did.

“Mommy always said have faith, and that God would make a way. I had to travel everyday to get to work and school, while I lived with my brother. I did not fail any subjects, and I never missed school. When I look back, the only reason I made it through was with God’s hand. He did everything,” McLeish said.

Work and study had started to take its toll on McLeish. A previous scholarship recipient of the J Wray & Nephew Foundation (JWNF) scholarship programme encouraged her to apply to seek financial assistance. She was successful and credits the foundation for giving her a life-line.

“I had a list of over 15 scholarships, and even though I did not meet the requirements for some, I still applied. When I was selected for the JWNF scholarships, I was so excited. The scholarship covered my tuition for the year, including boarding. I could focus on studying, and I didn’t have to travel to school anymore,” McLeish said.

McLeish said everything came home full circle, as she realised that the journey she wanted to take, God had a different calling. She received a Master Blender Scholarship from the JWN Foundation, and is in her second year of the scholarship renewal. McLeish is now on the final lap of her journey in pursuing a Bachelor’s in Primary Education.

“JWNF lessened the financial burden tremendously, making it less stressful. I remember when I had exams, every semester I would worry how I would get clearance. Now I won’t have to do that anymore,” she said.

Her mother, who knew that her daughter had much more to accomplish, is proud that despite the setbacks and the challenges, McLeish has remained steadfast and motivated.

“She is studying full-time, and she is now realising her dreams. She has the potential and she will succeed,” Pryce-Samuels said.

MCLEISH… Mommy always said have faith, and that God would make a way.