Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Norma Edmondson in her office at The Mico University College in Kingston. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

She is 78, but Norma Edmondson has blazed a trail of success and has proven that one is never too old to learn when she graduated from The Mico University College with a Master of Arts in teaching earlier this month.

Mrs. Edmondson, who also lectures part time at her alma mater, said it was a wonderful feeling having graduated from such a noble institution with a degree at her age.

"I enjoyed it (studying). The interaction with these younger people was really good in the classroom," Mrs. Edmondson tells The Gleaner with delight.

"We had a group and we worked together. It was a pleasing experience getting up at three o'clock in the morning and studying," the septuagenarian added.

She, however, noted that there was one challenge - that of using the computer - but with practice, she was able to master the equipment, which was non-existent when she attended school in the 1940s.

When asked if she had plans to further her education, Mrs. Edmondson giggled, "I don't know. I won't say categorically no, but if the opportunity presents itself, I will go for it," she said.

Mrs. Edmondson was born in Clarendon and attended Crooked River Elementary School. She said she was a "bright" little girl and moved up the grades quickly.

"My mother saw to it that I went to school every day. She would see to it that I did my homework and that everything went well," Mrs. Edmondson reminisced.

She later enrolled at Clarendon College where she sat Junior and Senior Cambridge examinations.

"My mother wanted me to be a teacher but at that time it was popular for people to go to England and and do nursing, so I got an application to apply but my mother hid it," she said.

So she did pre-trained teaching for about two years.

Married a 'wonderful man'

In 1956, the educator got married to a man whom she described as a "wonderful man". That union produced four children and adopted five stepchildren.

Mrs. Edmondson said she then migrated to Kingston where she taught at Central Branch School and also did a short stint at Shortwood Practising School.

Then, in 1970, she decided to further her education and so she went to the University of the West Indies, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.

"I wanted to do something different and I enjoyed the course so much. But then I came right back into teaching," said Mrs. Edmondson.

She then pursued studies at Mico College where she gained a diploma in education. She then continued teaching at that institution.

Mrs. Edmondson's achievements were not without obstacles. Her husband fell ill in 1998 and passed away in 2000.

Got ill in the us

"After I had gone through his illness, I went to America. Then I don't know what happened but I got ill," she said. Mrs. Edmondson related that she had to do three surgeries on her brain.

"When I saw that I got better and I bounced back, I said this is unfinished business, so I decided to test the brain and so I did the master's," she said with a smile.

Looking at Mrs. Edmondson, it is hard to believe that she is 78. Her office at Mico is on the first floor and each day she climbs those steps to get there.

A stalwart in the education system, Mrs. Edmondson believes that the transformation currently taking place in the sector is a good move.

"The system offers a lot of opportunities, but the drawback is the cost. Education is still the key and should be embraced," said Mrs. Edmondson.

Concern

She said she was concerned about males in the Jamaican society. "I would love to see them grasp the opportunity and get themselves educated and become meaningful citizens," she said.

Mrs. Edmondson teaches class-room assessment to part-time students in the afternoon.

"I love teaching and it warms my heart to see students who are not able to come full time, but progress into wonderful teachers."

When not teaching, Mrs. Edmondson, who loves flowers, enjoys gardening.

She is also a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, where she sings on the choir. She also participates in her church's outreach activity whereby they feed street people.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com