St Catherine woman completes 11-year journey to become a nurse

When she was just five years old, Stacy-Ann Gentles had the task of caring for animals in her rural community of Frazer's Content in St Catherine.

It was a responsibility that she took seriously, and it shaped her career path of nursing. Gentles was passionate about nurturing the sick and providing the best care to those in need, something she did with the elderly in her community.

She made every effort to be enrolled in nursing school, but after completing her secondary education at St Catherine High School and advancing to Pre-University School at Taylor Hall, Kingston, she fell short of the prerequisites to be accepted into the programme. Delayed but not to daunted by the discouragement, Gentles worked assiduously to begin her nursing school studies.

"I was determined to become a nurse. As I started university [in 2012], I started by faith two weeks later than my batchmates, but nevertheless I started and that was the best thing ever. I was overjoyed to get this grand opportunity to pursue my lifelong dream to become a nurse," Gentles shared.

After many twists and turns, and even a near-death experience, her dream has finally actualised. The 35-year-old will be among this year's cohort of graduates from the University of Technology, Jamaica as, after 11 years, she will be awarded her Bachelor's of Science degree in nursing.

She takes pride in her tumultuous journey to her degree and even authored two books, For My Lover and The Ultimate Life Sacrifice: Driven by Life's Purpose, which details her perseverance.

"When I started nursing school, I had a three-year-old son who started kindergarten as well. It was very difficult for me to navigate school and motherhood. I had to allow him to stay with my relatives for the first part of the first year. Then, later on in my school life in 2017, I got pregnant again and had to choose between the life and my son, and the life I have dreamed of career-wise. I just had to make sure that as soon as I could, I returned to school," she said. Her decision to continue her studies was simple, as she told THE STAR that it was her purpose to be a nurse.

"It was never within me to stop, even after having severe pre-eclampsia and almost dying after having my second son in 2017. I took many pauses during my studies, but I made sure I had no full stops. At times I prayed and asked God, 'A suh me a go start and then nuh finish?'" she said. Gentles' studies were also hampered due to financial hurdles, but she was able to continue after being granted a student loan. She also received assistance from family, friends, church brethren and her side hustle as a hairdresser, which she did in her free time, or cleaning the homes of elderly persons.

Having completed her studies, the mother of three is making preparations to continue higher learning by pursing a master's programme in psychiatric nursing.

"To be able to continue my studies after so many years, it has brought me so much joy. Not only for me, but my children, who are very proud that their mother did not give up. I cried so hard when I realised that this is it, I have won the race after finishing so many years later," Gentles said.