UWI graduate appeals to teenage mothers to never give up on their dream of education

A RECENT graduate of The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus is appealing to teenage mothers never to give up on their dreams of education and career development.

“I am calling on all teen mothers to persevere. Do not give up on your dreams because you got pregnant.You can still achieve your goals.”

These are the words of encouragement from Natifa Ragguette who was herself a teenage mother but did not allow her pregnancy to stop her.

Last weekend, Natifa obtained her Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the UWI Open Campus.

The Owia resident already had her Bachelor’s degree in that field of endeavour. Ragguette is a graduate teacher at the Sandy Bay Secondary School.

Graduation day was a double celebration for Ragguette, whose mother, Natasha Nero also obtained her Master’s degree.

Nero who is Principal of the Owia Government School graduated with a Master of Science degree in Management and Educational Leadership.

Nero is not only proud of her achievement, she also expressed pride in her daughter.

“We planned it that way for us to graduate the same time and we are happy that it happened,” she told SEARCHLIGHT.

“My daughter and I have a very close relationship and we are happy with each other’s achievement,” Nero said last Saturday.

Natifa attended the Georgetown Secondary School.

“I got pregnant in form five, and I did my CXC while I was pregnant,” Ragguette related.

She did not allow her circumstances to deter her and Ragguette had good success at the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams.

And unprepared-for motherhood did not quench her thirst for higher education.

Natifa gained entrance into the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) and later to the UWI St Augustine Campus to do her Bachelor’s.

Her son is now 10 years old and Ragguette has no regrets.

“Don’t let anything stop you from pursuing your dreams,” the young teacher advised.

Ragguette teaches Principles of Business, Principles of Accounts and Office Administration at the Sandy Bay Secondary School.

“This is a moment I will always remember,” her mother, Natasha Nero commented.

She said the double graduation was “destiny.”

Nero has been an educator since 1993.

Both Nero and her daughter also expressed thanks to the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for making their recent studies possible.