As a young boy form one of the rural districts in Jamaica, West Indies, the thought of attending a University was remote but desirable for more than one reasons. It began primarily with the idea of learning to read and write when the alarming rate of illiteracy plagued this small Caribbean island at the time. Advancing to the sixth grade by skipping fifth grade was a phenomenal achievement for me which caused me to realize that education is valuable and can open future opportunities even though some students and others in the community did not value education as such and believe that it was too challenging, don’t worth the effort or sacrifice and the basics is good enough.    During high school it was difficult for me as my parents had six children; five boys and one girl and there were many challenges. I was the third child and understood parental responsibilities and what it meant to encourage my siblings and be encouraged through reading and sports. I dropped out of high school for one academic year and worked on a small farm in the countryside to make ends meet until my mother insisted that I return to school. After graduating from St. Ann’s Bay High School (a Seventh-day Adventist Institution), I cherished the thought of attending college locally or aboard but wanted to work for a year first. Jobs were hard to obtain and I attended college locally because the international institutions were not affordable. I graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Business Administration from Northern Caribbean University formerly West Indies College and returned to work as a bursar/part-time teacher of my former high school. The school was in need and my pay was oftentimes short of the agreed amount but still I would assist students with lunch and bus fare. The school did not have a physical education teacher, so I volunteered and solicit sponsors for football, netball and net. It was rewarding to see the student learn and participate in sports at school. This was a rear opportunity for some of the students to play sports and stay late for practice as their parents’ worldviews differ and domestics responsibilities superseded recreation. I felt that my presence at the school inspired and encouraged some students because they were able to have a teacher not much older than they and understand their needs and challenges at school and home. However, I had to find gainful employment for personal and professional reasons event though the School Board offered meet the principalship which I refused because I felt I was not adequately qualified at the time. I established a successful career in two years and later migrated to New York City primarily to continue my academic pursuit.  I have always wondered what it is like to study at a brand-named university considering the cost. I was awarded the New York City Mayor’s Graduate scholarship to Polytechnic University and attended for two semesters because the tuition was not affordable on my entry-level Junior Accountant civil service salary. I enjoyed the evening classes at the City University of New York and Polytechnic University. However, establishing a career in some civil service agencies with the responsibility of a family can be very complicated and as a manager without union representation it can be very challenging but education was always my way of staying encouraged through the years whether my supervisor was less educated or not. The cost, the expressed discouragements and sacrifices were real but the personal benefits were great motivators. In my mind, a doctoral degree was a distant thought from time to time and occasional dreams throughout the years but as Nelson Mandela aptly said “Everything is impossible until it is done.” I also belief that the hand of God