Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanae Cooper-Robinson.
Shanae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I stemmed from the bowels of poverty, and I saw it necessary to use education as a means to diminish the severity of poverty. Life has given me many sour tamarinds and lime that I used to make tamarind balls and limeade. I don’t know if there is worse for me to experience because I have gone through extreme life crises before. I grew up in a broken single-parent family household. My father was absent from my life, so mummy had to go to the market as well as work odd jobs to suffice the needs of my siblings and me. My mom’s work ethic was and still is unmatched. There was no limit to the ethical things she did to suffice our needs. She played the role of a mother and father well for many years. However, life was still rough. It has even gotten worse when a life changing tragedy struck. Our home was broken. Shortly after that incident, my mom lost her sanity; at that time, my youngest brother was a baby. A lot of changes have been made because of that dilemma. My siblings and I had to leave our childhood home to live with other family members. We suffered psychologically and emotionally from the situation. Life has never been the same since.
We went to live with grandma because we didn’t have a choice. While living with her, that was the point when I felt the full wrath of poverty. She had a one-room board structure home. She had no electricity, used a lamp, cooked on a wood fire, washed with pond water, and stored drinking water in buckets or drums, etc. I spent one-third of my life at her home. She sent me to school under struggling circumstances. The burden of hardship was just unbearable. After living with my granny for a few years, my mother’s sanity started recuperating. Shortly after that, my Aunt Q welcomed us in her one-bedroom board structure home. I can recall fourteen of us living in that space. We had to make ourselves smaller to fit. We did everything outside except sleeping. Life was similar there to the one experienced at Grandma’s abode.
My siblings and me went to primary school without having much, but we learned to be contented with what we had. Mummy gave us fifty dollars for the six of us. When we traveled in a taxi, it lessened the amount that we had to spend by thirty dollars, so most times we walked many miles to get to school. While taking shortcuts, we had to crossed ponds, barb wires, passed animals, mad people, mud pools. When we reached school, we were muddy, sweaty, bloody, tired /exhausted. Oftentimes, we ate our lunches before reaching to school because we were very much sensitive about what we brought.
I moved on to high school. At that stage, I was struggling to find my true identity. I became a part of a crew. I found myself drifting from my usual self. I had to lie to fit in. I wasted most of my time. I was a victim of peer pressure. In my final year, I did a lot of reflection and self-assessment, which led me to a conscious decision. I never wanted to leave the way I came, so I dropped all companies and regained my true sense of self. I remember how poor I was, how hard my mother worked, and that she was relying on me to take us out of poverty.
Wanting a better life, I went on to college. The struggles, numerous embarrassments, belittlement that I went through reminded me that poverty could not be a good thing. Determination, prayer, fasting, encouragement, and self-drive helped me to persevere to the end of my four years. God gave me so many testimonies and placed some good people in my life who helped me along the way. More details of this is in my book, even the $500.00 testimony.
At a different juncture in my life, I faced different types of adversities. Five years after leaving college, I decided that I wanted to upgrade myself to feel a sense of self-actualization, so I pursued further studies. Two months later, I found out that I was expecting. I was mind blown to the point that discouragement said give up, doubt said it could not be done, and negativity whispered give in, but I rose above my adversities and triumphed once more. Thanks to a great family support system.
Looking back, I can truly say that my circumstances made me who I am today. I have had some rough times and experiences, all of which had thickened my skin, built my character, and added to my strength as an individual. They gave me knowledge that I can pass on to others; the tests gave me testimonies; my trials fortified me with strength so I could defeat the Goliaths in my life. I am a victor and not a victim. I can share that I have acquired emotional, psychological, and intellectual strength from the myriads of encounters and experiences that I had. My God has always been my guide. He never left me on my journey, so I won’t leave Him when I reach my destination. I just want to encourage someone that whatever your adversity is; you can rise above it. Use it as a stepping stone to reach your destination.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey and pain before I blossomed into this wonderful fruit, I had a past which tied to my root experiences. I grew up in dire poverty in a single-parent household headed by my mother. Life was unbearable; it has even gotten worse when a life-changing tragedy struck.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an educator by profession. I teach the curriculum, go around to various schools, and do public speaking, model teaching, workshops, etc. I am known to be a Generativity Strategist who passes on knowledge and skills to the upcoming generation. I also empower single-parent mothers, poverty-stricken youth, college students going through financial challenges, and the average person to rise above their adversities. I am most proud about having my book’s title used for Jamaica Day 2023 and being a mom. My work ethic, zest for achieving excellence, creativity, and innovativeness set me apart from my competitors.
What were you like growing up?
I was an introvert, a bookworm, and a sassy child who was a real goal-getter.
Pricing:
- 12 US dollars for my book
- JM 2000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shanaecooperrobinson.com
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/shanae.cooper.10
- Linkedin: https://bit.ly/LinkedInShanaeCooper-Robinson
- Youtube: https://bit.ly/YoutubeChannelShanaeCooper-Robinson
- Other: https://web.facebook.com/Shanae-Cooper-Robinson-107642651951424/
