THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF ANGEL STEPHENS
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
23-year-old Angel Stephens faced a life-altering ordeal when, at the age of three, she accidentally ingested her grandmother’s diabetic tablets, mistaking them for candy.
This alarming incident resulted in a week-long coma, leading doctors to inform her mother that Angel would likely grapple with a learning disability that could significantly impact her education.
“I struggled throughout my primary school years, consistently finding myself at the bottom of my classes. “I couldn’t concentrate and felt I just wasn’t performing at my potential,” Stephens recounted during an audio interview with Nightly News.
Her disposition resulted in her gaining a place at the Richard Ishmael Secondary School.
“I was devastated because I knew that it was not a good school in my time, but now it is doing very well and producing a lot of great people,” Stephens remarked.
Despite these significant challenges, Angel remained resolutely determined and held steadfast to her faith due to an integral role played by her grandfather.
“My grandfather took an interest in me after I started taking the tablets, and he helped me in a lot of ways. He made sure I ate a healthy diet, stayed rooted in Christ, and even taught me how to play chess.”
Angel’s grandfather, a firm believer in the value of education, often urged her to challenge herself academically. By the time she reached Fourth Form, he envisioned her sitting for four crucial Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects: Principles of Accounts, English A, English B, and Mathematics.
Angel Stephens and her grandfather.
With determination and hard work, Angel embraced the challenge and triumphed, achieving success in all her examinations.
“At that point, I realised that I am not stupid, that I could actually work if I put my best foot forward, so I did,” she said.
After achieving remarkable success in her initial subjects, Stephens was motivated to pursue 12 subjects.
Displaying exceptional dedication and talent, she not only passed all of her courses but also excelled among her peers, ultimately graduating as the valedictorian of Richard Ishmael Secondary School.
This resulted in her gaining entry at the Bishop’s High School, where she pursued the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency. Examination (CAPE).
Despite grappling with the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic and the new online modality, Stephens weathered the storm and amassed a 3.8 GPA.
A scholarship to Hugh Wooding Law School would have been possible for the young woman with such a high GPA, but this did not occur.
“I applied months in advance, followed up, went in person, called, enquired, and completed all of their requests…. However, I did not get the scholarship, and I was crushed. I was so devastated because I knew that my family could not afford $3 million dollars per year for me to go and study,” she recounted
Angel attributed her remarkable achievements not only to her relentless perseverance but also to the unwavering support of her mother, Rhonda Gaskin, who reminded her that “God will make a way”.
“We walked the streets of Georgetown seeking assistance from many organisations, government agencies, credit unions, and law firms some were promising but not forthcoming, but we never give up”.
With crucial assistance from other encouraging family members, Ms. Gaskin relentlessly fought for her daughter, even going so far as to sell food at their church canteen to make sure Angel had every chance to thrive.
Stephens frequently apologised for not making her tuition payments on time but tried not to focus on the situation but rather to excel.
“Eventually things got better, and I know it was not easy, my mother; it was not easy on my family. I know that they took out various loans…. My mother went the extra mile for me and i am so grateful. As a teacher, it was not easy for me.”
Stephens also immersed herself in extracurricular activities such as the Guyana Jurisdiction Committee and the Committee for the reviewing of assignments and grades for the Council of Legal Education as a student representative.
“I would meet with the Council of Legal Education and its Committee to review law students’ assignments and grades and address issues that affected them or their concerns about the grading and assessment process.”
Angel Stephens Receiving an award for the Hugh Wooding Law School 50th Anniversary Moot court competition.
Additionally, Stephens took part in debating and mooting contests, which increased her recognition.
She noted that despite her preoccupation with extracurricular activities, she never failed any of her courses, although they all were challenging.
“I can only give thanks to God for allowing me to participate in extracurricular activities, compete in the Bahamas, and persuade the judges in the case of marital rape in that jurisdiction and how that law should be modified. All of that – I never had to repeat a course. I passed all my courses, although they were challenging, and again, I owe it to God,” the young attorney recounted.
After graduating with honours from Trinidad’s esteemed Hugh Wooding Law School, she was accepted as an attorney-at-law into the local bar.
23- year- old Angel Stephens Attorney at Law
Stephens gathered with respective family members and Attorneys at Law
