When Sacha Brown-Burke enrolled in the High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme, she knew the road ahead would not be easy. After seeing an advertisement for the programme in the Longville Park community WhatsApp group, she immediately recognised an opportunity to take a step toward a better future.
At the time, she had no subjects. Recalling the moment she signed up, she shared with Freedom Come Rain:
“I jumped at the opportunity because I wanted more out of life. My kids were all growing up, and I said, ‘When they’re all gone, what am I going to do?’ My spouse could die—how am I going to support myself? And so, at that time when I was wondering what I was going to do with myself, all of a sudden there came this notice in the community WhatsApp group.”
Today, she has no regrets about taking that step. “I was just ecstatic, because I was home taking care of family, and my kids were all growing up, and I wanted to do something with my life,” she said.
Once she joined the class, it took courage and determination to continue. At almost 50 years old, she was the oldest student in the class, with her classmates ranging in age from 17 to 35. It was then that she made a conscious decision—not to “fit in”, but to “stand out”.
Brown-Burke began with City and Guilds, describing it as an awesome experience, noting that the qualified instructors went above and beyond in providing support. At the time, she admitted she felt “rusty”, but her instructors encouraged her and pushed her to attempt the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
Determined not to let the opportunity pass her by, she accepted the challenge. “I was determined to not let opportunity pass me by. I saw this as my last chance at life, as we would put it, and I made good. But it wasn’t all me—it was the instructors who were dedicated to helping us to be the best that we can be,” she shared.
Throughout her journey in the HSDE programme, Brown-Burke admitted there were moments when she felt overwhelmed. During those times, she leaned heavily on her faith. A Christian and member of the Free Town Seventh-day Adventist Church, she prayed often and strengthened herself in the Lord, confident that He would see her through.
Her perseverance paid off. Between 2022 to 2024, she earned five CSEC subjects and decided to go even further, enrolling at the University of Technology to pursue a diploma course as a dental assistant.
Once again, she faced challenges, but she was never without strong support.
“My family, both immediate and extended, were incredibly supportive, providing me with the encouragement I needed to succeed. My husband in particular ensured that I had the necessary resources, such as gas to attend school without any hindrances. Their unwavering support was instrumental in my transition to becoming a career woman,” she said.
Now fully employed as a public servant, Brown-Burke has no regrets. She believes her journey is allowing her to make a meaningful contribution to the growth and development of both her country and her family.
Having benefited from the programme, she is now encouraging others not to allow age to be a deterrent in pursuing their dreams.
As she puts it, “Age is just a number—it’s not a barrier to achieving your dreams.” If you can envision it, you can make it happen. I didn’t want to live with regrets, so I seized the opportunity and, by the grace of God, I successfully graduated with honours.”