Few people would argue that Ingrid Gaskin is a success story.
Despite a difficult childhood, she has gone on to achieve both academic and sporting success.
The 20-year-old accounting and finance student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus is the second to last of her mother’s eight children.
Owing to her mother’s difficult circumstances, from the tender age of two months she was sent to live with her godmother who raised her to adulthood.
“When I really think about it, honestly, it would’ve been a good idea for me to live with my godparents because the conditions that my mother was faced with were not good.
“She had a temporary job in Government. She was a maid and one week she would get a job [but] the next two months she wouldn’t have anything,” she said.
Putting aside the criticism and judgment she sometimes received from others, Ingrid went on to excel at Springer Memorial, where she placed first in class from first to fifth form and graduated with ten Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) certificates.
Although she didn’t live with her mother, she still credits her for hammering home the importance of academic success.
“She was the person who would’ve gotten behind me and kept putting in my head you have to have CXCs in order to get through,” she told the SUNDAY SUN.
Ingrid also highlighted the importance of being raised by a Christian family.
“My godmother’s husband, who I call my dad, he died in 2007. He was the pastor of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Drax Hall, St George, so I grew up going
to church and going to Sunday School.
“You learn certain things you should not do and if you do these things, you’re going to get punished. That kind of set me straight,” she said.
At Springer Ingrid not only excelled in her schoolwork but she participated in hockey, track and field and volleyball, and fully embraced the usual camaraderie of secondary school.
“I would say secondary school would house my best childhood memories . . . I was very active. By playing hockey for Springer this enabled me to become a member of the national senior squad and the Under-21 squad.
“Being on this squad I was able to go away in 2008 to represent Barbados in the Junior Pan-Am Games,” the goalkeeper recalled, noting that she is hoping to represent Barbados again this year.
Having just completed her first year at UWI, the aspiring accountant has her mind set on pursuing the Certified General Accountant designation when she graduates.
She is also trying hard to maintain the enviable 4.0 grade point average she had at the end of her first semester.
Balancing school and hockey requires good time management and Ingrid sticks to a schedule.
“Let’s say I have hockey practice on Tuesdays and Thursday 4 to 6 [p.m.].
While I’m at school I have free periods so I would go in the library and I would study a particular subject for that day, then after that go to my class,” she explained.
She then goes back into the library before going on to hockey.
“Then when I go home at night I would go in my bed about 10 and get back up about [midnight] and start studying and refreshing my memory for the other subject I have for the next day, so when I get in the lecture I wouldn’t be lost,” she said.
Despite her academic leaning, Ingrid still likes “doing things with her hands” and wants to pursue a course in cosmetology at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic so she can do hair and nails “on the side”.
Her achievements so far have come through perseverance.
“I’m a very hardworking person. If I have my mind made up that I’m going to do this thing, I’m going to work towards doing it. That is how I accomplish all my goals.
“Wherever you go, whatever you do, there are always going to be obstacles in your way. Your goal is to try to overcome them and after overcoming them, head straight for success. Don’t wait. What you put in you will get back. I am an example,” she said.
Positive Youth is a series highlighting the efforts of some of the youth in our nation who are engaging in positive pursuits. If you know of any such people, please contact Natasha Beckles at 430-5459 or [email protected]; or Bryan Walker at 430-5492 or [email protected]
