Francine Black, Staff Reporter

Damion Crawford - Rudolph Brown

It is hard to believe that Damion Crawford came from getting nine zeros in one year on his report card to lecturing students at the university level. But that's exactly what happened to this 28-year-old achiever.

Crawford, who grew up at Little Lane, off Hagley Park road in St. Andrew, was expected by many to become anything but an educator. He attended Half-Way Tree Primary School, where he was placed in a class for slow students and was put in the class for the slowest students at Kingston College.

"In third form, my mother said she not coming back because is a waste of time. At that time I got nine zeros out of 13 subjects. My father said that he was going to send me to become a mechanic," he said.

Lowest grades

Even then, Crawford's grades continued to be poor. In fourth form, he got 16 per cent in mathematics and he and his friends, who were in the same class, use to compete for the lowest grades.

Crawford's turning point came during the summer break after fourth form when his father died after being ill for some time. His dad, who loaded trucks with cement at the Cement Company, had given the youngster a lecture about responsibility. "When my father died, I started getting smart," he said.

After his death, the responsibility to care for five children was too much for his mother and so it was shared between relatives. Crawford's uncle assumed responsibility for him and became like a father figure. A teacher was also influential in helping Crawford to turn his life around, often encouraging him.

When he returned to school and started fifth form, it was with a drive to succeed. His quest for success was so great that he and his 'dunce' friends formed the Success Crew. All five members of the crew achieved high grades and have careers in law, business and hospitality.

The class of slow learners did so well that for that year 19 students went to sixth form. In addition, he got eight subjects, the third highest in the school. In sixth form, the guidance counsellor told him about a hospitality scholarship to study at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Bahamas campus. He was awarded the scholarship and although he was attending University of Technology, he was allowed to transfer to UWI when he received his A' Level results.

He also attended UWI's, Mona campus, and now he teaches there. He has bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality and management and now he lectures marketing and tourism.

His success continued on campus as he was guild president while at UWI in Bahamas and was also given the post while at UWI, Mona. He was also chairman for Taylor Hall and was very involved in the school's sporting activities.

NOT forget his past

But success has not caused Crawford to forget his past, as he is inspiring other young people to desire and chase success too. This he has being doing through a mathematics camp he started four years ago. At the camp, students from inner-city communities are tutored intensively over a three-week period. "One of the reasons that people in the inner city sometimes do not do as well is because they do not know about certain things and if they should be exposed to success, then they will want it too," he said.

He points to his own situation, noting that he did not want to be successful until he was exposed to it in high school.

This initiative, along with a weekend class that he organised to provide a means of follow-up for the students, has been quite successful, with 42 students from the recent summer programme passing their recent CXC examinations. In addition to that, six students from the programme are now attending UWI and another student also received a scholarship to UWI.

Some may say he has achieved a lot, but Crawford is still aspiring for more. Pushed by relatives and friends, who felt he had a talent to inspire and lead people, he has entered politics. He is hoping to one day land the top job and become prime minister, so he can address what he said are inequalities in the society.

In the meantime, he advises people wanting to be successful to follow these simple steps. First, "I think you have to know yourself. Know what you can or can't do."

He also said you need to know what resources are available to help you accomplish your goal and most importantly, you must believe in yourself. "No matter how the odds look, you always have to know where you are going. If you know where you are going, then you will know when you arrive," he said.

"In third form, my mother said she not coming back because is a waste of time. At that time I got nine zeros out of 13 subjects. My father said that he was going to send me to become a mechanic."