First Place Poetry “Mama” by KiJanne Alfred, above, and First Place Essay “My Grandmother’s Disability” by Micheal Millin, below.
Julius E. Sprauve School sixth graders Micheal Millin and Ki’Janne Alfred took home brand new Kindle Fires last week thanks to their talented essay and poem, which won the top prizes in a Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands writing contest.
Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands Executive Director Amelia Headley LaMont announced the winners of the essay and poetry contest at an assembly in the JESS cafeteria on Tuesday morning, May 6, awarding prizes for the three best essays and poems, plus honorable mentions in each category.
Micheal Millin took home a Kindle Fire for his first place essay “My Grandmother’s Disability” which detailed his grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
“I watched my Mom get very tired day after day, doing everything for her,” Millin read from his winning essay. “This disease has its ups and downs. Some days my grandmother would know who you are and then the next moment she doesn’t know you at all.”
Ki’Janne Alfred won a Kindle Fire for her first place poem “Mama” which shared the story of her great-grandmother’s battle with diabetes, to which she eventually succumbed.
“Like rain drops falling on a rainy day the tears ran down my face the day my grandmother died,” read Alfred. “No longer was she suffering with the disease that took her life. Even with her disability she always had a smile and the kindest words.”
Ajahni Jeffers won a Kindle and a $25 gift certificate to Foot Locker for her second place essay titled “My Great Grandmother’s Disability.” Alisha Turnbull won a Kindle for her third place essay “The Great Helen Keller,” and Jean Nestor took home a signed copy of Senator Tregenza Roach’s poetry book “The Blessing of Rain and Other Poems,” for being named honorable mention for his essay “My Feelings about People with Disabilities.”
Dasia Brathwaite’s poem “Still a Person” earned her second place, a new Kindle and a $25 Foot Locker gift certificate, while Lee Christian won third place and a Kindle for his poem “Grandma’s Disability.” Shikira Smith took home a signed copy of Senator Roach’s book of poems for her poem “Disability” which earned an honorable mention.
The JESS sixth graders in Lucinda Parsons and Kalisha Mathurin’s classes were asked to write about their feeling regarding disabilities after watching the documentary “Better to be Human,” directed by Johanna Bermudez.
The focus of the contest was to create awareness about disabilities in the community, explained LaMont.
“Disabilities are a natural part of the human experience,” LaMont said. “None of us are immune to disabilities. This is the only group that you can join in an instant.”
Bermudez, a Crucian who owns and runs Cane Bay Films, was also on hand at last week’s assembly where she applauded the JESS students for taking part in the contest and sharing their personal stories.
“I am so proud of you guys for sharing these personal stories,” Bermudez said. “The reason I fell in love with film was because I wanted to help people. I thought, ‘What better way to help my community than by telling our stories.’ That is what I try to do.”
Disability Rights Center officials visited six schools across the territory in October to share information about the essay and poetry contest, yet JESS was the only school which took part in the program, explained Bermudez.
“We went to what they said was the smartest school in the territory and what they told us was the most challenged school and others,” Bermudez said. “You were the only ones who got involved, put your hearts into it and took this contest seriously. Thanks to your teachers for helping to move this along too.”
LaMont also credited the JESS sixth grade teachers for encouraging their students to take part in the contest.
“We have to make special recognition of your teachers,” said LaMont. “You have fabulous teachers here and you have a lot to be proud of.”
Mama
by Ki’Janne Alfred
Like rain drops falling
On a rainy day
The tears ran down
My face the day my great grandmother died
No longer was she suffering
With the disease that took her life
Diabetes robbed her blind
Stole her leg and
Left her disabled
Stuck in a bed
Unable to move
Watching the world pass her by
Waiting for my daily visits
To lift her spirits
She always had the brightest smile
Boy do I miss her laughter
And her cheerful words
Always wanting to know how was my day
I use to cry and wish
My mama could walk
But now I cry just wishing
She was here
Even with her disability
She always had a smile
And the kindest words
The day she died a bright
Star fell from the sky
But through her disability
I learned from my Mama
Never to give up or cry wondering why
My Grandmother’s Diability
by Micheal Millin
My grandmother has a disability and it’s called Alzheimer Disease. My mother told me she got it when she was 55 years old. It seems to be going through the family because my great grandmother had it and her sister too. When my mother was explaining it to me, it was kind of confusing. It’s a bit scary because my mom or my uncle could possibly get it too.
My mom had to take care of her because she couldn’t take care of herself. I watched my mom get very tired day after day, doing everything for her. Bathing her, feeding her and changing her bed to make sure she is clean. I would sometimes help mom, because she did all by herself.
This disease has its ups and down. Some days my grandmother would know you and then the next moment she doesn’t know you at all. In the beginning my mother had no clue what this was. So I watched my mom try to understand it by doing a lot of research on how to be a care giver to my grandmother. There are days it’s good and then days where it wasn’t. My grandmother could get violent and upset over everything and sometimes nothing. You definitely have to have a lot of patience, because there are days my mother would need a break. We could really go anywhere for too long because my mother didn’t like to leave her alone.
Sometimes we would have to have someone there with her so we can go out to the store or to the laundry. You have to spend time with her by talking to her or watching TV with her. I noticed sometimes, not all the time would she call me by my name. I would spin around and wonder how she remembered it and it would make me smile. Sometimes my grandmother would think I’m her son, I go with it because it makes her feel good. I like to hear her laugh when she’s trying to make a joke.
For three years, my mom took care of her, but Alzheimer’s come in stages. My mother realized that she couldn’t do this alone anymore and had to make the hard decision to put her in a home. My grandmother is in Sea View Nursing Home in St. Thomas now; she’s doing pretty well there. She is among people like herself and they can do much more for her there. Whenever we get a chance, we leave St. John and see her. Believe it or not, she still calls me Micheal, because she loves to think I’m her son.
