At 31, Shavonae Wallace has achieved remarkable success, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Secondary History and Social Studies) with first-class honours from Bethlehem Moravian College in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, despite facing numerous setbacks on her journey.
Her path to success was far from easy, but she remained determined, focused, and resilient in pursuit of her dream of earning a university degree.
“Due to racial issues, I found myself involved in an assault case. I represented myself and won the case,” she shared.
Shavonae's Story and How She Did It
Shavonae graduated from secondary school in 2013 with passes including Mathematics and English. However, financial hardship prevented her from transitioning directly into tertiary education, forcing her to enter the workforce instead.
“I started working with the National Youth Service and used that money to begin nursing school, but after two years, I had to stop because of financial limitations,” she explained.
With her tuition costs now increasing and no guarantor to secure further support, Wallace later traveled to the United States with hopes for better opportunities. However, the experience proved challenging.
“Due to racial issues, I found myself involved in an assault case. I represented myself and won the case,” she said.
In 2019, she had to return to Jamaica with little more than a bag of clothes but with renewed determination to rebuild her life.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she moved to a new town without family or housing, relying only on a potential job opportunity she saw online seeking bartenders.
Though bartending was not what she envisioned for herself, Shavonae took the job as a temporary solution to survive difficult times.
“I never imagined myself working in a bar because growing up, we were taught education was the way out. But there were no jobs at the time, so I had to try,” she said.
Despite moving between bars due to unstable employment, Shavonae seized opportunities wherever she found them. Then she relocated with saved money, borrowed more funds from her sister, and opened her own bar business.
Shavonae even ventured into farming, planting watermelon, carrots, peanuts, and corn, though not without challenges. Yet, even with her businesses running, she felt something was missing: education.
Determined to pursue her dream, she applied in 2021 to study education at Bethlehem Moravian College. While she initially tried to manage her business alongside school, Shavonaie eventually closed the bar to focus fully on her studies.
She paid tuition in instalments before later securing assistance from the Student Loan Bureau after guarantor requirements were removed.
At college, Wallace committed herself not just to passing, but to excelling. She earned a place on the principal’s honour roll for three consecutive years.
In her fourth year, she secured a pre-trained teaching position at Wolmer’s Boys’ School and later received the Class Award of Excellence in teaching History. In November 2025, she proudly graduated with first-class honours.
Today, Shavonae works as a teacher at Manchester High School, and she says many people who once knew her during her bartending days now celebrate her success.
Reflecting on her journey, she remains grateful even for the difficult periods, seeing them as stepping stones toward her goals.
She hopes her story encourages others facing hardship to keep pushing forward.
“There is greater out there and more to achieve. If you want it, just go and get it. We all have our own timeline. We just have to keep it together, have a vision, and stay motivated,” she advised.
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