Anita Clarke – Triumph over adversity

NOT many people possess the ability to rise above their challenges and defeat life’s handicaps, but Anita Clarke embodies a spirit of resilience that has her creating waves in her circle.

Clarke, 25, is testimony to what it takes to defeat the odds. At age seven her mother was murdered in Grant’s Pen, which led to her being raised by her father. She said this part of her life is what taught her self-discipline and gave her the stamina to survive.

“I had to take on a mother’s role and though my sister was 11 and I was seven, I pretty much did the washing, cooking and cleaning. She was the glam girl and when the chores were there to be done she disappeared and I had to do them,” she told All Woman.

“That experience taught me self-discipline and how to be a go-getter because things were not served to me on a silver or gold platter. I had to determine the path I wanted to take, because I was determined not to wind up pregnant either in or right after high school like many young girls in the inner city.”

And so she set out on a path for greatness using these self-taught skills to chart her course, but after being placed at Pembroke Hall High when she sat her Grade Six Achievement Test, Clarke said it was as if life threw her a curve ball.

“In high school I had a cousin going to St Andrew High and it was as if they [family] felt I wasn’t bright enough or good enough because I was going to Pembroke Hall. When my dad sought a transfer, the Ministry of Education said they sent people like me to Pembroke Hall to lead and I thought it was a very foolish statement and I was just ‘bad lucky’,” she said.

To make things worse, Clarke said she felt within her family circle that she was being victimised for the placement, as well as because of her mother’s death, as she and her sister were nicknamed ‘dead lef’ by aunts.

She said her aunts used her father’s soft-spoken demeanour to their advantage and she lived her high school life in fear because of the abuse she faced from family members.

“I used to do track and field but for some reason my aunts just didn’t think that was proper for me. My sister was rebellious and my aunts believed I was following her lead. One time as soon as I got to gate of the stadium I got a phone call to say I needed to come home but I shouldn’t tell my coach,” she said.

“When I got home I was greeted with a piece of stick and a hose and I was beaten to a frazzle and ‘boxed’. My mouth was bruised and my face was swollen. The reason? They said I was following my sister as she and I left home at the same time. They believed I was lying and was following her to do badness.”

She added: “My average plunged because I was trying to focus, but there were so many things going on at home. Teachers were asking and I was so afraid to open up. I knew if I spoke they would come to the house with police and then they would beat me. I went through it in silence and didn’t tell anyone.”

She said she knew the only way out was through education, but attaining it meant she would have to work twice as hard.

“I stayed back after school and I thank God for some of the teachers at Pembroke Hall who allowed me to stay back in the library and study. Those who I shared my issues with knew my plight and they saw my passion and drive to excel,” she said.

With her new-found courage, Clarke managed to become the head girl of the institution and attain nine CXC subjects, before acquiring an associate degree in entertainment management and a bachelor of science degree in hospitality, entertainment and tourism management from Excelsior Community College.

But getting to this point also brought its set of challenges, as although she received a grant to begin school there were no funds to cover her remaining tuition.

“I had to go to Student Affairs every exam morning for a one day pass to do my exams. One time the principal told me she was going to prevent me from doing two of my exams and I cried. Eventually I got to do them and applied for a departmental scholarship and also got a scholarship from CSJP (Citizen Security and Justice Programme). I also did JAMVAT (Jamaica Values and Attitudes Project for Tertiary Students) and that’s how I completed college,” she said.

Clarke, who is also a professional dancer, is now gainfully employed as an administrative officer at Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa. She has also ventured into her own business — Ann Clarke — which does original craft jewellery and hairstyling.

“I love craft and I started the jewellery line from coconut shells. I was cooking one Sunday and saw a piece of shell and it looked like a pendant, so I got sandpaper and started rubbing and my father is a cabinet maker so he has these tools. When I got to grains I applied some varnish and used some strings and old earring beads. I wore it, people told me they liked it, and I just launched out. I make earrings, necklaces and bracelets from coconut shells which I buy from the Coconut Industry Board,” she said.

She is also a pro at natural hairstyling, which she started after styling her own locs. And apart from dancing, she’s big on personal development, giving motivational talks and assisting at the community level.

“I love pageantry, so I entered this year’s Miss Universe Jamaica pageant and I’ve entered the Festival Queen competition in the past. These competitions have helped me to develop personally and taught me a lot.

“You might not be in the best situation, you might not be rich, and you might not be able to afford the finer things in life, but just put in the work,” she said. “If you have been in a situation like me, learn to forgive. My father and I, we’ve spoken about it. I told him no one should know his child better than him and he shouldn’t have left the yard and allowed them to poison his mind. But it’s damaging to hold people in your heart and be bitter every day. If you’re to motivate people you can’t be resentful.”