Seven years after suffering a debilitating stroke, which left her paralysed on her left side, Leslie Ann Jolly Huggins graduated in tears on Firday with a Bachelor of Education (BA) degree in Psychology and Minor in Criminology.
Huggins who could have barely walked onto the stage at the University of the West Indies, Sports and Physical Education Centre, St Augustine, to collect her certificate, received a standing ovation from parents, lecturers, guests and fellow students for her crowning accomplishment and fighting the odds.
Huggins wept openly knowing that he mother who lives in the United States could not have attended the graduation ceremony
“It was a bittersweet moment for me…happy that despite being physically challenged I did something I can be proud of, yet I cried because my mother was not here to see despite my struggles and hardships I did it.”
Though unemployed, Huggins, 42, of D’ Abadie, is currently pursuing her Masters in Human Resource Management at the Arthur Lok Jack School of Business.
Huggins, a mother of one, said that near the end of a three-year midwifery programme at the San Fernando General Hospital she got a stroke on October 1, 2011, as a result of stress.
The stroke left Huggins paralysed and she became bed-ridden for six months. She said she had to depend on her husband, Sheldon, after she was confined to a bed.
Huggins said she felt like her entire world had collapsed, as she went into a shell.
“I pitied myself knowing what I was to what I had become. I was helpless and losing hope every day. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror.”
One day, Huggins said a voice within told her to stop feeling sorry for herself.
“I started pushing myself…exercising on my bed to get my legs and arms moving again and by the grace of God I started seeing results, slowly but surely.”
From not being able to sit upright, Huggins began holding a pen and book, to standing on her own.
“That’s when I realised I could resume studying and decided to write Social Studies at the CXC level.”
Without the help of a tutor, Huggins wrote the examination in 2012, where she obtained a Grade 2.
“At that point in time, I felt empowered.”
From there, she attended UWI Open Campus to pursue psychology for two years and then moved on to pursue her BA in psychology with a minor in criminology at the university.
“In less than three years I obtained my degree. I used to tell my lecturers, look at me now because you not seeing me again in this campus. I had made up my mind not to repeat any of my courses,” Huggins said.
With the aid of a cane, Huggins used public transport to get to and from the university.
Her biggest challenge was climbing 40 steps in the engineering department to get to one of her classes.
Now she drives her own car.
She admitted that while her fellow students helped her in moving from one classroom to the next, she assisted them with their school work.
“We helped each other in many ways and that is what made it fun and enjoyable.”
Huggins’ message to other stroke victims was to never give up.
“Just keep praying and persevere. Where there is a will there is a way.”
Her next step is to write her final midwifery examination.
Huggins who does voluntary work at the St Mary’s Children Home and El Dorado Police Youth Club has her eyes set on helping abused children.
“I just want a job now. That would be the icing on the cake.”
