– One woman’s unwavering drive to come out on top

By Michel Outridge

A FEW years ago, if you had told Tennesha Bristol that she would graduate with a distinction in Social Work from the University of Guyana (UG) she would have been in doubt, but she did it despite many challenges.

This mother of two has shown exemplary strength and determination, two qualities that kept her going along with her grounded faith in God and most of all made her academic journey a success.

During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Bristol said she always wanted to become academically qualified to rise from her current situation, having had a hard life, an abused one where her days were void of a strong family foundation.

Hardships
“From a young age I never had the encouragement to upgrade my academic level, but I knew I wanted to become a lawyer or a writer; but for now I will contend with what I have achieved until I can realise my dream,” she said.

Bristol reported that in 2013 with no financial backing from any family member nor a bank account, she enrolled at UG for the four-year Social Work degree programme.

Mind you, she didn’t even have a guarantor and subsequently, had to withdraw after her first year and got a job, because she couldn’t complete her first semester.

Bristol added that she was unable to save any money to return to UG and she became very depressed but didn’t give up, and with her first salary she purchased a cell- phone.

Timely assistance
Back then, BBM was the trend and she connected with a lot of people, particularly a Nigerian man, who was genuinely interested in her life and she told him what was going on in her life.

The 27-year-old said that the Nigerian told her to re-apply at UG to continue her studies and that he would pay for it. As chance would have it, she had already re-applied and was hoping for a miracle.

“I didn’t believe him because of how these Nigerians are presumed to be, but here I was talking to this guy I never met and he was willing to help me. Being true to his word, he sent more than $100,000 every semester for two years and never asked for a receipt,” she said.

Bristol told the Pepperpot Magazine that when the administration changed the Anti-Money Laundering Act came into play and her friend had difficulty sending the money but she asked a friend to assist her, since she had no bank account and even the friend was mildly surprised when the money came.

Determined
However, Bristol lost her cellphone and in her third year at UG, she was on her own because she lost contact with her Nigerian friend and had no way of getting money to finance her studies.

She remained steadfast and a few people stepped in to assist her after she was forced to take another year off due to the lack of funds.

Bristol, a single mother of two boys, disclosed that her lecturer, her classmates and others pitched in and contributed, thereby making it possible for her to complete her very challenging studies.

“It was a real struggle for me. Imagine I used to walk a lot, not because I wanted to, I had no other choice; I walked from Tucville to my children’s school every day and even walked to UG many days for a month,” she said.

Bristol stated that she had to read materials and had to do her homework from her cellphone during that period; she had no electricity at the place where she was staying in Guyhoc Park.

This aspiring young woman is the mother of two boys, a three-year-old and a seven-year-old. Presently, Bristol resides in Tucville at a family friend’s place.

Bad memories
Recalling her childhood, she told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is still going through a lot of trauma; as an abused victim, she keeps reliving the horrors that befell her and she was blamed for it.

Bristol said she grew up with her grandmother after her dad stole her from her biological mother as a child; she got to know her mother only when she was about 15 years old.

“Most of my life I had no real contact or relations with family due to the fact[that] I endured a lot of abuse which left me very depressed and suicidal, but I prayed for help,” she said.

Bristol related that she was disgraced by her family and blamed for the abuse she suffered and that motivated her to study social work, because she said she needed someone to talk to but there was no one.

“I needed self-help, but I had none and when the social worker came it only made the situation worse; and I know a lot of people are suffering just like I did and I want to help. I want to bring about healing, justice, and change, be a testimony that God is good and to empower others,” she said.

Aspirations
Bristol reported that she has been through a lot and with academics she can better reach out to others and her goal is to open a house for abused girls and women, a place where they can feel safe and get counselled while they heal.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is hoping to pursue a career in law because she wants to help abused girls and women where she can provide pro bono services, since people experience unique issues.

“I want to become a comfort, a mentor, a role model and I want law to fit into the house I plan to open and I would also like to write a book about my life, so with all these goals I have to get a well-paid job,” she said.

Bristol added that she has already drafted a proposal and is optimistic all will work out as planned.

“Today, I am very grateful because a few people believed in me; my lecturer told me that I am a very determined young lady and that will take me places and that was my mantra, it motivated me. I am amazed at what I can accomplish,” she said.

For instance, Bristol noted that when she wrote CXC she was in the top three for the Seventh Day Adventist Federation, even though she couldn’t sleep and was hopeless.

“I will never forget where I came from, due to my struggles I see it fit to encourage my children to be their best, be humble, live simple[sic] and be of service to people. Life isn’t easy, but it’s worth it especially when you don’t have a support system or anyone,” she said.

Bristol believes that one should not run from his/her problems, because they don’t go away, but to face it and try to deal with it.

At a young age, she had to manage her money, so from that she evolved into a wise spender and believes she was created for a purpose; as such, she is hoping to be successful in her endeavours.