Tesa Chaderton-Shaw: Dealing with curve balls

What is your greatest childhood memory?
Living at the Belle Plantation and being prepared by my mother to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Belle Plantation in February 1966. I had the privilege of presenting her with a bouquet of flowers in honour of Barbados’ imminent Independence from Britain. I remember that day as vividly as if it were yesterday.
 
What is your most precious moment?
Being one of the first girls to enter Harrison College in sixth form in 1976. Little did I realize that I and several others were making history and that it would be a watershed moment in education in Barbados.
 
What keeps me passionate is. . . .
loving me, valuing myself, feeling comfortable in my skin and sharing my knowledge and awareness of social ills and conditions with those closest to me. 
 
My biggest regret . . .
I have none that stand out. I have had some fantastic experiences and opportunities. In retrospect, I have benefited from the curveballs that life has thrown at me, although you don’t realize this when you are going through it. 
 
A life-changing moment happened when . . .
I gave birth to my first daughter, Miah. Then my second HayleeI realized that I would never be alone again. In fact, they both keep me on my toes
 
My most treasured possessions . . .
aged black and white photographs of my extended family and love letters from my youth.
 
How did I ever exist without . . .
an awareness of God and his omnipotence.
 
The person who has made the biggest impact on my life . . . .
My parents Shirley and Charles Chaderton in very different ways: she, for her unswerving support and unconditional love; he, for his compassion towards those less fortunate.
 
What I love most about myself now is . . .
being free and unfettered and getting good quality sleep!