A class act | Old Harbour family revels as relative Rushena Rose conquers USA academic frontier

Undoubtedly it was one of his proudest moments after witnessing his one and only sister graduating from Montclair State University in the US state of New Jersey.

As he watched his baby sister Rushena Rose collect her prized accolades, memories of their struggles being raised by a single mother transformed his entire being into an emotional rollercoaster.

“Just the moment seeing her in her gown… the whole setting was transformed back to where we lived,” Chambers, 39, told Old Harbour News in an interview. “It was a very emotional, emotional moment, to be honest with you.”

For most Jamaican kids, climbing out of poverty is a very arduous task. For any adult, it takes a lot of commitment, self-discipline and self-motivation to remain focused in such a difficult environment, let alone a child.

But Renaldo, who holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Technology Jamaica, and Annekie – Rushena’s middle name as she’s also affectionately called – were hell-bent on bucking that trend regardless of their living conditions.

“I’m not saying that we were way off worse than the people around us, but the mere fact that we chose to break the cycle (of poverty) through education,” Chambers, a field service manager at the Jamaica Public Service Company, said.

He added: “Growing up things were really, really bad but you don’t understand how things were until you reach of a certain age to realise what was happening around you.

“You were young and basically you were happy with what you have and happy with the people around you, so you didn’t understand what was really, really happening around.”
On the day Rushena graduated, their mother Juliet Williams was awash with a sense of completion. An unthinkable mission has been achieved.

“I have done my part; they have made me feel so proud within myself knowing that Rushena and Renaldo have reached the highest standard you expect them to reach. Later on they can go further because the sky is the limit,” said Williams who had emigrated to the US with her daughter who was 14 years old at the time.

Raising her two children was a hard struggle for Williams, who did domestic work at one point in an effort to ensure they had food to eat and could attend school.

“Renaldo’s life was very rough, rough; but thank God he made it through,” Williams said. “Sometimes he would remember certain stuff. He used to say to his sister ‘you are the lucky one. I remember the days when mama (his grandmother) would give me bread and butter and lemonade to take to school for lunch’.”

During the graduation ceremony it was also a moment of introspection for Rose. She had accomplished a major milestone in her development, but was cognizant of the contribution made by those most important in her life.

“The person who has groomed and carved my values into what it is today is my persistent mother. From a tender age, I was taught by her a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow called ‘The Ladder of St Augustine’.

“Being so small at the time it was given to me, I could only remember mumbling over the words in an attempt to comprehend it.

“But I must say stanza 10 of the poem, ‘the heights by great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night’.
“It was very vivid to me, but this I held on to; interpreting the moral hard work needed in order to reap success,” Rose shared with Old Harbour News.

She remembered her mom walking her to “the bus stop every morning” during her formative years attending Marlie Mount Primary and St Catherine High schools in Jamaica. 

“To many, it was surprising how a mother would take such great care to ensure that I was safe even as a high school student.  Her protective nature is evident even till today and some may say even more so now,” she said.

Rose, now the holder of a bachelor of science degree in Public Health, added: “Even though I was always a self-motivated individual, my mother Juliet, my brother Renaldo and my dad Courtney all played a role in my success starting from an early age and made an indelible mark in my life.

“The philosophies learned was instrumental in developing my determination that were keys to my success and will also propel my future growth.”

Rose has justly rewarded the faith and resources invested. She never wanted to disappoint those she loved so dearly.

She had an excellent work ethic, which saw her being on her high school honour roll. This consistently high level of academic performance afforded her scholarships and grants which covered “95 percent” of her university expenses.

“In whatever decisions I make, I put forth my best and realize that true success does not come overnight but with hard work and testing the depth of my endurance,” said the 22-year-old.

“As I matured, I set high expectations and goals to meet my future dreams. My involvement in organizations and clubs provided me with the opportunity to develop great leadership skills.
“I understand that one must first be led in order to be a leader and I continuously push myself to go above and beyond all expectations.”

Certainly for Rose and her brother they were both inspired by what they saw in their mother. Her deep desire to go the extra mile was without a doubt the driving force behind the success of her children.

Indeed, through sweat and determination Williams has accomplished a legacy few in her situation achieved.

“We were all screaming, everybody was excited. We were all proud, all excited and happy for her. I was overwhelmed and feel so good,” the proud mother said. “I only have two kids and both of them have made me feel so, so proud I can’t explain how happy and proud I am. Is only God knows.”