Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter
SEVEN YEARS ago, Rodney Walton was a barefooted child roaming the streets of Kingston during the days and sleeping there at nights.
Rodney has made many strides since then, and his success story can be described as a beacon of hope for other boys in similar situations.
On Thursday, Rodney, now 18, will be leaving the island to attend the Broome Community College in Binghamton, New York. He will be pursuing a two-year radiologic technology course (radiology). He is eager to take advantage of the opportunity.
"All I want to do is go to school so I can get a good education," Rodney told Generation Today when first interviewed in May 1993.
Back then Rodney said his mother was on drugs and abused him. He ran away from home one night after she burnt his clothes. She has since died, but he has a younger sister, an aunt and his grandmother whom he visits during the holidays.
After Rodney's story, which carried the headline 'Waifs living dangerously on the streets', was published in The Sunday Gleaner, May 9, 1993, a Peace Corps worker from overseas sent a copy of the article to Polly Bowes-Howell, principal of the Stony Hill All-Age School and former president of the Stony Hill Kiwanis Club. The worker asked for Mrs. Bowes-Howell's assistance for Rodney and his friend Derron Williams. Derron was later killed in a motor vehicle accident in 1993.
Mrs. Bowes-Howell, with the assistance of a Peace Corps worker found Rodney and 11 other boys. They were interviewed and all agreed they wanted to go back to school. They were placed at the Homestead Place of Safety and Albert Stamp, who was in charge of the place, agreed to allow the boys to go to school.
"When Rodney came, what was shocking was how quickly he did the reading tests and how well he could read," Mrs. Bowes-Howell said. "Within a week of entering school, he was sent to the regular class."
She said the first day Rodney came to school he visited her and said "Thanks miss, I am thankful to be back at school and I am going to work hard to make everyone proud of me."
Rodney has kept his word. A year after going back to school, he sat the Common Entrance Examinations in 1994 and won a free place to Jamaica College. Mrs. Bowes-Howell and the Stony Hill Kiwanis Club assisted Rodney to attend the high school.
After spending a year at J.C., Rodney was transferred to Clarendon College. Last year he sat the CXC exams and was successful in eight subjects. Rodney proceeded to sixth form where he spent a year doing A' Level biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics, plus general paper.
Although Rodney's ambition is to become a doctor, he said last week that when the opportunity came for him to apply for the scholarship to study abroad he could not let it pass.
"I sent in my application through the CASS programme (Centre for Advanced Space Study) and was accepted to the Broome Community College," he said. "I was elated when I was informed that I was accepted."
Rodney vows to work hard to make his country and friends proud of him.
"The importance of the scholarship is that you must return and give back something to your country and I am going to do just that," he said.
Rodney, who is living at a Boys Home in Chapelton, Clarendon, had high praises for Collie Plowright, superintendent of the home, and his wife Virginia who teaches at Clarendon College. He said it was Mr. Plowright who was instrumental in helping him get the scholarship to study abroad. He also credited the favourable living environment at the home.
"There is a very friendly atmosphere at the home," Rodney said.
He describes Mr. Plowright as one who "is a master at his trade which is taking care of us, helping us to be responsible and teaching us to unite."
The couple recognise Rodney's special qualities.
"Rodney is very determined and whatever he sets his mind to do, he is doing at all cost," said Mrs. Plowright.
She also describes Rodney as a good student, one who motivates the other boys and who also has the interests of the younger boys at heart.
