Homeless UWI student gets life-changing scholarship

When Thrion Mitchell left his community of Lionel Town, Clarendon, for The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in 2012, he harboured hopes in switching his major from biochemistry to medicine.

He completed the first year of studies, but found the going tough thereafter. The cost of financing a university education became prohibitive, and by 2017, he had officially dropped out.

Now 32, Mitchell tried again in 2023, only to defer when the money ran out. The following year, with his father paying tuition, he returned to campus -- but with no roof over his head.

Mitchell said his nights were spent in stairwells and on the roof of one of the buildings. He bathed at the Students' Union or hoarded bottles of water until nightfall. His few belongings stayed strapped to his chest as he slept, terrified of losing everything.

But poverty wasn't his only battle. During a break from school, he became a father. His son's mother migrated, and his connection with the boy fractured.

"That was the hardest part. The situation became chaotic, and I felt like I wanted to crash out," Mitchell admitted.

Calls with his son are still painful. "When his mom says, 'Come talk to your father,' he runs away. He doesn't know who I am."

The shame of separation and homelessness weighed heavily. With unwashed clothes and no money for a haircut, Mitchell avoided people. A job in digital marketing with an overseas company collapsed, and even The UWI's payment plan couldn't keep him afloat.

Through it all, his father was his anchor -- not only helping with tuition, but sharing stories of his own struggles.

"It made me realise this is not unique to me," Mitchell said.

The turning point came in 2024, when desperation drove him to the Office of Student Financing at The UWI. A week later, he got a memorable phone call. He had been awarded scholarships covering tuition and dorm costs.

The assistance came through UWI's student support programmes, including the CB/UWI 5K Scholarship, funded by CB Group's annual run/walk, and the UWI Toronto Benefit Awards TD Bank Scholarship, which together covered his $547,000 in tuition and housing.

It was the stability that Mitchell needed.

"Before, I thought I'd have to stop school again. When I heard, I felt assured," he said. "My clothes are clean, and I can focus fully on my studies."

Becoming a doctor is no longer at the forefront of his mind. His dream now is to help shape Jamaica's financial policy and push for stronger financial literacy. He is in his second year, studying banking, finance and economics.

"A lot of people don't know how to invest, how to use money, or the difference between a liability and an asset. My struggles are the driving force," he said.

Still, his deepest motivation is personal. His son will soon turn four.

"I want to pour into him, teach him life skills, sports, knowledge, so that at my age, he's already ahead of me," he said.

The scholarship, Mitchell believes, was more than financial help. It was proof that he was not forgotten.

"It made me realise there are people who actually want you to win. They're on your side and interested in Jamaica's well-being."

From tar-stained nights to clean clothes and renewed purpose, Mitchell's story is a testament to perseverance.

"It might seem impossible, but it's not. There is a way, there is a path. You give the effort, and there are systems out there that will invest in you."