– Now with a degree, Camille Gonsalves looks to a career in counselling others
LIFE has not been smooth-sailing for 45-year-old Camille Gonsalves who, along with losing her thriving business overnight, had to endure years of physical abuse from both of her spouses. But in the end, her resilient attitude benefited both her and her children.
Just two weeks ago, she graduated from the University of Guyana with a Degree in Social Work. What is more, she had the joy of starting her studies at the university at the same time as her son, Xavier, who couldn’t manage to graduate with her but will do so next year.“I didn’t let those incidents keep me down – losing everything and going through abuse while caring for my children and still continuing to study. I supported my children, but they also supported me and helped me reach where I am today,” Camille told the Chronicle in an interview recently.

Before deciding to go back to her studies, Camille had her own business, a furniture factory, which she managed. She not only managed it, but worked very hard manually. “I can build furniture, do plumbing; I can do anything a man can do in terms of work. I actually did the physical work – building furniture, making it from scratch; planing wood, sanding, cutting it to specification,” she recalled.

Camille developed a love for this type of work because her father was a boat builder and joiner and as a kid, she would shy away from the house work in order to be around her dad’s work station. “When he went into the farm, although he didn’t like anyone using his tools, I would take them and make little things and hide them,” she fondly remembered during the family’s time in Kariabo Creek, Region One.

Camille thus invested heavily in her furniture business but she was not the one who managed the financial aspect of it. By the time she realised that all of its resources were being squandered, it was simply too late. “That thing really shake me up. After I lost my business, I decided I will not work hard physically anymore. That’s when I decided to go back to studying. In fact, ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to attend university and graduate. And that’s what I did.”

When she started back studying, she had no money, but she was nevertheless determined to continue. After losing the business, she went to Institute of Distance & Continuing Education (IDCE) and did three certificate courses in social work and psychology for which she finished with distinctions. She then applied to the University, took a loan, and started working on her Degree.

Camille’s efforts and sacrifices paid off because her son and daughter, Avita, both got excellent CXC results. She always encouraged the children to write the number of subjects that they could have reasonably handled and do well with. Her daughter is currently in Canada attending college, while her son will finish at the university soon.

She recalled that life was rough having to care for the children and send them to school. “I pawned all my jewelry just to make ends meet,” she said with tears welled up. Her daughter was writing the common entrance exams at the time. “Life was hard. What I was earning at my Guyana Stores job couldn’t take care of all of our needs.”

Now with a degree, Camille is hoping that if she does not find work within the public service, she would pursue offer counselling as a private business.

Camille is advising persons who are going through rough patches in life not to ever give up their efforts to press on to something better. “Take the pain and the disappointment and use it to make you stronger. I always tell my children that nothing is hard once you put your mind to it. But giving up is not an option. We can do just as much as anything we set our minds to do.”

Camille still does her own plumbing and builds her own shelves at home.