
Cassandra Everett
Student At The University Of The West Indies
“The AFT Scholarship significantly impacted the final year of my undergraduate journey at the University of the West Indies. In second year when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Jamaica and school physically closed, I had to move back home to Portland in rural Jamaica. Not only did the pandemic affect my parents’ income, but it also prevented me from finding temporary employment opportunities, since many companies were not hiring and because I had to move back home.
Uncertainty about funding my final year, coupled with the anxiety of finishing school on time put a lot of strain on my parents who tried their best to save as much as possible. Now, my parents have been relieved of a great deal of burden, I am performing well in my studies and I am on track to graduate this year. The university experience is exciting but financial issues can rob you of that. I am grateful for the American Friends of Jamaica (AFT) Scholarship for believing in a student with dreams and a drive to succeed”