Woman who had to delay studies twice due to financial difficulties successfully graduates from SVGCC




By S. Browne. Updated 9:49 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
When Charisma Charles walked across the stage of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC) to receive her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, it wasn’t just a graduation — it was a victory.
“That stage meant more than just graduation,” she reflects. “It meant survival — after all the sacrifices, after all the moments I thought of giving up.”
Charisma’s journey to this milestone was anything but easy. She had to defer her studies twice — first during her CAPE years (2020–2021), and again while pursuing Paralegal Studies (2021–2022). Both times, financial struggles forced her to pause. But she remained determined.
“There were moments when I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to finish,” she admits. “But I held on.”
To support herself, Charisma turned to creative work — modelling costumes and appearing in local advertisements. What began as a way to earn an income became a source of transformation.
“It helped me find a confidence I didn’t know I had,” she shares. “It wasn’t just about dressing up. It taught me to believe in my presence… to be both bold and soft, both strong and graceful.”

Her decision to study law, however, came from a deeply personal place — rooted in family and loss. As a child, she watched her grandfather lose his property, not due to negligence, but because he didn’t have the legal knowledge to defend his rights.
“It broke my heart,” she says. “I saw how easily someone’s life’s work could be taken away. I wanted to learn the law — not just for myself, but to stand up for people like my grandfather.”
When asked what kept her going in difficult times, she said: “My grandmother was my biggest source of motivation. She always told me, ‘It’s not how long you take to get there, but as long as you get there.’ When I had to defer, when I struggled to pay tuition — her words kept me going.”
She also credits her lecturers at SVGCC for their understanding and grace when things became overwhelming and her family who provided encouragement and support.
Now that she has graduated, Charisma has a clear path forward: to keep learning, keep fighting, and keep giving back.

“I hope to work in a space where I can help others understand their rights,” she says. “Eventually, I want to become a legal advocate or attorney — not for the title, but to truly make a difference.”
More than anything, she hopes her story reaches someone who may be on the verge of giving up.
“I’m sharing this to inspire someone who might be going through something similar. Whether it’s financial difficulty, personal hardship, or just the fear of the unknown — giving up is never the only option. Keep going. Take your time. You can still make it.”
END




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