Mother and son set to graduate from university together

Carrie Edwards-Elson’s dreams of higher education may have been delayed by personal loss, childbirth and financial constraints, but they were never abandoned.

Now 49, she is rewriting her story as she enters her final year of university alongside her eldest son.

“I just decided that it is now or never because I realised I am not getting any younger,” she said. “I know, if I waited too long, I am not going to do it.”

Edwards-Elson, who is pursuing studies in early childhood education at Shortwood Teachers’ College, said she and her 23-year-old son, Clive Elson, began university at the same time.

While she is now in her final year at Shortwood Teachers’ College studying early childhood education, Clive is also completing his fourth year at the University of Technology (UTech), where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting.

The mother and son are, therefore, on track to complete their studies and graduate in the same year.

Knowing that his mother’s dream had been delayed by so many circumstances makes him “greatly happy to see her finally after so many years of waiting she is now doing her studies”.

Clive said he was initially surprised that they would be pursuing their studies at the same time. Still, he would not have it any other way. As he looks forward to crossing the stage at the same time as his mother, Clive said, “I am even happier at the prospect of graduating at the same time, I am happy for that.”

He said watching his mother balance work, family and her studies has been inspirational, but one memory in particular has stayed with him.

“I remember many, many years ago she was speaking to some of her other friends who were going through tertiary education and she spoke about her desire to go but wasn’t able to at the time, so right now it’s wonderful,” he recalled.

For Edwards-Elson, a mother of two boys, allowing life’s challenges to dictate her future was never an option. Instead, her children became part of the motivation pushing her forward.

“I am doing this to prove to them ‘never give up even when it is hard, it is do-able’,” she said. “My motto is ‘difficult doesn’t mean impossible it just means you have to work hard to achieve your goals’.”

Edwards-Elson was among 30 awardees recognised at the Terra Nova Hotel on September 4 during The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Hoilett/Lambert Scholarship awards ceremony.

Speaking to THE STAR moments after receiving her award, she said financial constraints had delayed her educational ambitions, while personal tragedy forced her to enter survival mode from a young age.

“When I was just 5, I lost my brother and, at just 11 years old, I lost my mother and was living with my father alone. Life got difficult,” she shared. “Because I had to tend for myself at a young age, that put education at the back burner but I never gave up.”

That struggle lasted for several years as her focus shifted almost entirely to survival.

She took on odd jobs, first working as a cashier in a supermarket and later at a restaurant. She eventually owned her own business for 10 years but, throughout it all, her desire to become an educator remained.

“I have just always wanted to work as an educator because teaching is a passion of mine,” she said.

As she reflected on the journey, Edwards-Elson recalled an experience she said she had shared only with close friends.

“It means a lot because I remember when I had my son that was one of the reasons why furthering my education was put behind me,” she said.

She recalled holding her son and making herself a promise: “Don’t worry my baby, I put off college for you, we are going to get it.”

Now, years later, she is making good on that promise.

For Clive, seeing his mother pursue her long-delayed goal while raising a family has made her achievement even more meaningful.

“Her message is one of perseverance and not giving up, because she is in the later stage of her life and she is pursuing her goals,” he said. “A lot of people, after getting children, wouldn’t bother but she’s on this roll of improving. Her story is one we all can learn from.”