Young mom takes baby to school - 20-year-old juggles baby and books

At just 20 years old, Deborah Lewis is raising not only a five-month-old son but also hope for her future, all while tending goats and pursuing City & Guilds certifications at the College of Agriculture, Science, and Education (CASE).

From the rural community of Snow Hill , Portland, Lewis is rewriting the narrative of perseverance, showing what determination and a supportive village can achieve. Her son has become an integral part of her journey.

"It's difficult, but I have to do this for him and for me," she said, cradling the baby who has already become a familiar face among her classmates.

Lewis' son isn't just her greatest motivation, he is also her constant companion. Most mornings, she can be seen pushing his stroller onto the CASE campus, navigating hallways and staircases as she makes her way to class.

"It's like he's going to school full-time with me," she joked, adding that her "quiet baby", has become a beloved part of campus life.

"Everyone loves having him around," she said. "He makes this journey feel a little less lonely." But bringing her baby to campus is far from easy. Preparing him often delays her mornings, and the logistics of getting around can be challenging.

"The pram I had doesn't work so well. It can't close so I usually have to ask a classmate to help me carry it up and down the stairs," she recalled. Despite these hurdles, Lewis finds ways to manage. Her classmates have also embraced her situation with open arms, forming an informal support system.

Currently enrolled in CASE's sixth-form pathway programme, which serves as an extension of secondary education, Lewis is working towards City & Guild certifications in English, math, entrepreneurship, customer service, and agriculture.

After a four-year academic break, the transition has been challenging.

"Most of what I learnt in high school is gone because I wasn't studying back then," she admitted.

Balancing school and motherhood means sleepless nights, clinic appointments, and moments when caring for her son forces her to miss classes. But her supportive classmates help her stay on track, sharing notes and study topics. She works on weekends and holidays, helping her grandmother at her flower shop and assisting her mother at a bar and cook shop and takes care of her animals.

"I also have goats, three of them. I used to raise chickens, both layers and broilers, but not any more."

"My mom and grandmother are my strongest supporters. They're always there for me," she said.

Looking ahead, Lewis dreams of expanding her farming ventures after completing her studies.

"Agriculture isn't just a career, it's my calling," said Lewis who grew up watching my stepfather tend to crop and animals.

She envisions having a thriving farm where she can grow crops, raise livestock, and secure a better future for her son. Her advice is simple but powerful.

"Go to school, get a skill, push through. Don't let nobody make yuh feel small. Mistakes happen but pray and keep moving forward."