– Colleen Hamilton defies the odds and is positively influencing others

COLLEEN Hamilton, 36, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, is special in many ways. On Saturday last, she graduated from the University of Guyana Berbice Campus with an associate degree in Social Work and is now reading for her bachelor’s.

Born pre-maturely and suffering a fall when just a few months old, she
was immobilised for the first few years of her life, unable to attend
nursery school. The doctors at that time felt she would not be able to
walk or lead a normal life since the injury affected her spine.

Through perseverance, confidence, trust in God, the desire to help others and
with support from family and friends, Hamilton proved her doctors wrong and
soon became a beacon of hope and inspiration for others.

From an early age, she never accepted that she would have to remain
confined at home and kept pestering her parents to send her
to school as normal kids do, because she wanted to get an education and
do something worthwhile.
She eventually started to walk a little at age five and her parents agreed to send her to nursery school.  Her stint there was short-lived, having spent two weeks only, as she had to be in and out of the hospital.

Corrective surgery was recommended but since it was a 50-50 chance of success, her parents decided to put their trust in God and decided against it.

Hamilton went on to attend the St Therese Primary when she was discharged from hospital. There, she wrote the National Grade Six Examinations and was
awarded a place at the Tutorial Academy where she passed her CSEC
examinations with flying colours.

Reflecting on her school days, a somber mood took over the otherwise
energetic and confident young woman.

“I just wanted to move around and play at recess or lunch time but,
instead, I was given a chair and all I could do was look at my friends
having fun. For physical education in secondary school, I was placed in
a particular spot in the field. I could not really take part and it
really hurt me emotionally,” said the young lady.

However, her physical struggles with mobility allowed her to appreciate
and see life differently. She immediately started volunteering after
high school, helping those in her community to read, write and
complete assignments and projects.

Wanting to do more, she started volunteering at the special needs
school in New Amsterdam and recognised that people were comfortable
with her and would often confide or seek her listening ear whenever
they were troubled.

Seeing the impact her words of advice had and the ‘good feeling’ she gets
from helping out, Hamilton decided to enroll at the University of Guyana to
become a social worker. She believes in upward mobility by people and
aspires through her work to see persons develop.

“I want to be able to help people and I am in a unique position to
share my story and help to inspire others, so even though I still
cannot walk properly on my own, I want to be educated so that I can
help others in need professionally,” she said

Hamilton did not attend the graduation exercise and chose to wait until
she gets her bachelor’s degree to celebrate. In the meantime, she continues to
volunteer her services in her community and the Special Needs School.
She said disability is not inability

Hamilton also hopes to see, in the future, facilities throughout the
country being equipped and designed for use by people with
disability. Additionally, she advises that a special ministry be created to deal with persons with disability. She advises persons to put their trust in God and they will overcome any challenge that they face.