Deborah Gordon – Jamaica Gleaner
Amid the numerous challenges being faced by the country, Jamaican students continue to prove that they are resilient and for their hard work have been rewarded with coveted places at top universities in the United States.
One such student is Deborah Gordon, who grew up in the gritty, low-income St Andrew neighborhood of Callaloo Mews and endured numerous hardships on her path to tertiary success.
The 17-year-old, who is a past student of Immaculate Conception High, migrated to the United States to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
In an email response to The Gleaner, her mother, Carone Gordon, said: “After migrating, Deborah found understanding the school system as well as getting used to the culture a bit of a challenge. However, she wasn’t deterred. A very disciplined and diligent student, she has 250 volunteer hours, as she volunteers with various organisations while doing a dual enrolment programme which affords her the opportunity of graduating high school this summer with an associate degree in biochemistry.”
Having endured the difficulties of adjustment, the younger Gordon was accepted to Stanford University and has been awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Scholarship. On her journey, she has been making an effort to give back to Jamaica in her own small way.
“She is the founder of iNeed, a non-profit incorporated to assist students and young adults and recently awarded $40,000 in gift vouchers to eight Jamaican students. She is striving to expand her programme to include scholarships, since she understands without scholarships, her dreams of attending college would be shattered,” her mother explained.
Read the full story at jamaica-gleaner.com
