Raising three children, having a full time job and strapped by financial constraints may seem like formidable obstacles to some one trying to get an education.
But these challenges did not prevent Youville George from fulfilling her dream of furthering her education.
On Saturday May 11, George took home a Masters Degree in Education after the 49th Commencement Ceremony of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).
“I worked against the odds,” she stated. “Financially and physically it was hard. But if I can do it, I encourage everyone to do it, because education is freedom.”
George is the daughter of Hessline Matthew and Cresilar Auguiste and granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Matthew of St. Joseph.
She attended the Dominica Community High School in the late 80’s and later migrated to St.Thomas, USVI.
Her long road to success began when she started working as a custodian (cleaning/maintenance) in the Virgin Island’s Education Commissioner’s office in 1985. There she took the opportunity to learn filing and operating the switchboard while performing her custodial duties.
With encouragement she attended the UVI to learn American Sign Language.
“From there I realized that education is important and education is freedom,” she said.
While raising her three children and working full time she began taking more classes at UVI.
She began working with hearing impaired students at a middle school and later moved to a high school where she worked as a special education para-professional.
In 2008 she had enough credits to earn a Bachelors Degree in social science and she began teaching US History at a high school.
From there, George moved on to earn her Masters Degree.
“I did not allow life to suppress my dreams,” she said.
Working full-time and studying for a degree is tough. But, to add caring for three children at the same time is truly amazing.
Congratulations, Youville. Our God is truly great!
I am in tears of joy. Oh what a great God we served. Life did not stand in your way classmate. You make us really proud. Oh my God this is the best news I have heard in a very long time.
I remember our days in high school. What a transformation. I am so proud – Youville I recognize this smile. This is awesome.
Congrats Ms
These are the kind of stories i love to read!! COngrats Mam!! Hard work and perseverance definitely trumps all!! She could have chosen to make so many excuses but she didn’t! Wish all students would adopt this kind attitude!!
Kudos to you!!
Well Done.
God Speed
Beautiful and inspiring woman. Congratulations. may God give you good health and long life to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
congrats this is encouraging.
Congratulations. Your achievement and testimony should be a model to others especially the youth.
you make me so proud, cograts to you. u also reminds me of myself. single mother of two, go back to school in my 30s, graduate from Rutgers University in NJ with with BS in nursing, while sponsoring my family back in Dominica and working two jobs as a nurse aid. good for u girl. love people like u.
DNO.alu need to talk about d other high achievers at UVI. This year Domonica stole d highlight at UVI graduation. Our students graduated suma and magna cum laude. do alu homework DNO. and find out . i have already congratulated mrs.george in person so am not commenting further
Thanks for the motivation my sister.
Congratulations to my aunt. This has shown me that I can do anything in life once I have put my mind to it.
Congratulations to my cousin on her great achievement the family is so proud of you.
OMG I am proud of you …. Congrats
Excellent Ms Youville George, may your accomplishment serve as an inspiration to our young Dominicans who seem to have no route out of the struggles they face in DA. I trust the pursuit of your Dr’s is in your future plans.
edthia & family we all are very proud of you darling i just have to say that if we put our minds to something and we believe and have the encouragement of family/
friends we can move forward and better ourselves for a brighter future and tomorrow 
Ambition, Determination, hard work are important factors to success
You possess all 3 during your journey
Congrats !!!
Ambition, Determnation,and hard work are important factors in success.
You possess all three during your journey
Congrats !!!!
I applaud you great African queen.
CONGRATULATIONS MY GIRL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK , JAH GUIDE!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations, I too a widow and mother of 2 graduated with a Masters degree in 2011, from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Barbados. It was not any easy road, with very little assistance, I persevered and conquered. I want to join you in encouraging our Dominican women to stand and be counted too; its the bravery and confidence and the Grace of the Almighty that take us to the other level. That is the level that gives us the Independence. Go for it ladies.
OUTSTANDING!!!!
Congratulations to my primary school classmate.I am in deed happy for and you should be proud of your achievement. Truly behind every successful woman is the woman herself.
My sen joe friend, I am so proud of you,keep focus and your next step is your PHD.God deserves all the praise and glory. Congrats.
Great job!! Hope your 3 children learn from the example that you have set for them and achieve the best there is. You inspire me. Thanks.
Great job!! Hope your 3 children learn from the example that you have set for them and achieve the best there is. You inspire me. Thanks.
Congratulations to you my good lady. Education is FREEDOM. I always remember that quote from Longfellow.
The success that great people reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while others slept and partied were toiling upwards all through the night.
What an inspiration you have been to others.
soooo proud of you….senjoe massive….congratulations!
Well done Youville. Hard work and determination always pay off. There is a quote that I like to use: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Here’s to your future success.
Congrats Youville,
I am just suprised you did not make mention of your husband assistance,I know you two very well and I appreciate the ways in which he gave you assistance.There are ways in which he helped and support others would not want to do.Good luck in the future and all the best.
How do you know what she mentioned and what she didn’t? Call the lady in private and talk to her. Postpone the melodrama; this is not for this forum.
Husband assistance? get real
well done.congrats are in order to you.very inspiring story.nice ending..we hope you go on to even greater things.more success.
youville big up! I wonder wat ma Hughes is saying now? where is kenny? I am proud of u girl.
Congratulations. You are an inspiration.
Great job! You inspire everyone. DCHS.
American sign language — that’s nice. Any chance of using this skill in D/ca?
Not likely….you know what she lives overseas trying to make it like you and I so be kind to the sister bro its all good
CONGRATS TO YOU MY GIRL. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO
You do not know anything about her. Stay out! She did it with the help of God.
Congratulations Ms George……… I know Kendra must be smiling from ear to ear
Congrats to this hardworking lady. While at Secondary school, now Senior Counsel Alick Lawrence told me (he was at UWI then), THE TOIL OF EDUCATION MAY BE BITTER BUT THE FRUITS ARE SWEET.
This may have been his motivating factor – and mine too because I never forgot that quote.
You may not have remembered that you had sewn such a seed but
THANK YOU SO MUCH ALICK !!!!
Great Words Mr. Cadette ;)
Congratulations my dear
Congrats my dear, keep up the good work and I pray for you to do well in the future.
Morihei Ueshiba why don’t you shot your mouth. What have you done for your country (Dominica), what have you donated? Dominica have a lot for well educated people and doing pretty good IN DOMINICA. So when you stay where you and develop the other country shot your ***.
Youville,
My friend and colleague, I congratulate you on your on youe great achievement! You have shown all Dominicans at home and abroad that with dedication no obstacle is to great to overcome!Enjoy the friuts of your labour.
In life we are all dealt very different cards, you my dear have demonstrated that no matter what we can achieve our goals. You were ambitious, driven and determined, and as a young woman you make me proud. Congratulations on all your achievements!
I am very proud of my friend . Youville we went to UVI together we did our French courses . I remember you were very determined.. I am so happy for you. You are a trooper…
All Dominica have, educational achievement & success for those who migrate, and crime & murders for those who live in Dominica with false hope of infrastructural projects from a no vision Govt, i wonder if Rosie Douglas was alive if Dominica would finally achieve greatness.
Congrats! What a very inspirational story! I am beyond impressed.
I am rather impressed! Very moving story. Your achievement should serve as an encouragement to others. We must stop the complaining and start applying ourselves. Time waits for no man. When one door shuts another always open, once you put your trust in the Almighty. Never depend on any man to make things happen for you, do not limit yourselves. You can be a Lawyer and CPR certified as well. We do not know what the future holds. I salute you Mrs. George!
just shows any one who puts their minds to something can acheive it. serves as inspiration to me
congrats darling
wow. congrats!
Inspiration to all. Ccongratulations
Isn’t it wonderful to read of such determination? I have never met you but you sound like someone I would like to meet. I hope such achievement serves as an inspiration for many in Dominica. Heartiest congratulations Ma’am!!
Congratulations Ms. George. Your story inspired me.
So you see, even the cleaner with three children can elevate herself to a higher level. I did not hear her lambase any government or talk about drugs and stealing helping her out, just hard work and determination, YOU GO GIRL. You have inspired me and we seem to be about the same age so no more procrastination from mw, I am on.
Congratulations Ms George.. You did well for yourself..From a cleaner to the holder of a Master’s Degree…May I encourage you to continue to remain humble…Dont let your achievements get the better of you as I have seen by so many before you..Very inspiring story..
congratulations, u inspire me. i realise i am not too old to make a start..things been so rough but i will make it.
Congratulation’s to you Youville.
this story is very inspiring, I must say it gave me a jump start to move towards my dreams
Congratulations. The sky is the limit.
Very powerfull and touching story dipicting determination dedication and descipline. This ladies courage should serve as an example to many of us who feel like giving up on making something of ourselves. Perceiverance and patientsalong with hard work brings great satisfaction and rewards.
I must say Congratulation from the bottom of my heart! Your deed inspire me. I celebrate you and your acheivement!!! Cheers!
Great!!! Congrats….
I firmly believe in being respectful to all because the person who cleans your home could one day be your boss. Congratulations to you and I wish you the very best.
Job well done.. Your story should serve as an inspiration to others.
I know this girl Youville, we were friends in StThomas very good friends, we worked together as waitresses in the same restaurant, and that lady was very much veritile, hard working and with all that she was the most jovial person in the world, she would make me laugh all the time, she is a good person too though. i just wanted to say youville even if we are far from each other i congratulate you and wish you and john the best,thanks for all you did for me ,, laughter.
Well done!!! Well done!!!! God bless you!!!! youn are indeed an inspiration!!!!
Congratulations is the simplest of words I can use to express how elated I am for you. If your story inspires one person and it will inspire more than one, then this journey is even more comendable. Just last week I had to check someone who was ignorantly making fun of another Dominican who at 52 decided to enroll in City College to earn a bachelors degree. I’m going to email your story to him.
You know, most times, it’s men who try to press women down, so I’m not too surprised at your comment. When I hear people saying that women don’t encourage and uplift each other, I know that’s a big fat lie. It’s women who inspire each other and applaud each other’s successes.
Tri-State Beauty you are always ever so positive and from what I learnt about you, it’s true to your character, always uplifting,encouraging and happy for others.
Great story! Congratulations!!!!
Wow!! HATS OFF TO YOU MY DEAR!!! YOU DESERVE YOUR SUCCESS!! I wish you continued successes in your future endeavors.
Congrats Yov…You did girl
This is truly inspiring, not only for single mothers but people who feel that they are caught in a cycle of poverty. Youville proves that by embracing opportunities and working hard in spite of our circumstances, we can succeed. From a cleaner to the holder of a masters degree….thanks Dno for this motivational story.
I totally agree with you. This is very inspiring to others as well, that no matter what we strive for in life, it is attainable and our circumstances should never hinder us or be an obstacle. I am proud of this woman. I am also a single mother, and I did the same. I registered to Uwi and obtained my bachelors degree. We can stay right here at home, and achieve our dreams. You go Youville!!!!!
Indeed it is inspiring but to achieve this here in Dominica? No chance…too much road block and redtape with the banks here wanting you to give blood plus before they help you and tell you it’s internal policy.
BUT!!! all is not lost …Thank God the NCCU though I was able to achieve and work. Everybody should put their money in NCCU. There’s always an option there even for a dollar.
Stupps – because he assisted her, does not mean that it was not a difficult road. Stop it!!!!!!!
well done Youville. Be an example to many.
Congratulations and well done. God does wonderful things.
Ambition, Determination, hard work are key factors to success.
You possess all 3 during your journey
Congrats !!