Don’t ever lose sight of your dreams — that’s the advice from young mom Calshae Iris.

Four years ago, while she was still in college, Ms Iris discovered she was pregnant.

She left school and returned to Bermuda. She had to work two jobs to keep herself and her daughter Saori, afloat. At times it seemed as though her dream of becoming a psychiatrist had been dashed.

But this autumn, the 24-year-old made it back to university.

She is currently enrolled in a double honours psychology programme at the University of Salford in Manchester.

Ms Iris said she was motivated to get there by her three-year-old.

“After I found out I was pregnant it was a transition because I had my mind set on finishing school,” she explained.

“I understood that having my daughter at a young age would slow my progress down a little bit, but after I had her I realised I had to work hard to give her the best.

“At one point I worked two jobs — bartending and as a cashier at Gorham’s. It was hard because I had to balance raising a child and two jobs.

“I would knock off from one and go to the other, but I kept it in my head: ‘You have to go back to school and do it now because it’s only going to get harder’. I knew I had to stay focused.”

Her studies will take her to Sri Lanka next summer.

Ms Iris was recently accepted to take part in a scheme run by SLV, an organisation that provides degree-specific volunteer placements in the South Asian country.

Through that she will get first-hand experience in her field, working with special needs individuals there.

The opportunity means a lot to her, especially considering she might be the first Bermudian to take part in the scheme.

“Before I was accepted into the programme, there was a phone interview and the woman who spoke with me didn’t even know where Bermuda was,” Ms Iris explained.

“For me to be the first Bermudian that I know of to take part in this is a big deal. I’m hoping it will inspire others.

“When I was here in Bermuda I would always see stories in the newspaper about people who were doing this and that who got scholarships, but you never really hear about young mothers volunteering abroad in different countries. So for me, this whole experience is overwhelming but also exciting and fulfilling.”

She said it was unusual for her to be selected considering she doesn’t have prior work experience in her field.

The interviewer admired that she was a young mother and trying to make things happen on her own.

“A lot of people don’t realise it’s possible to do it on your own,” Ms Iris explained.

“I do have a lot of family support, but when you do things for yourself you appreciate it a lot more than if you would run to your family for everything. I want to show my family and everyone else it can be done.”

Ms Iris’ daughter is currently living with family in Bermuda but will join her mother in the UK in the New Year.

She said she was excited about being reunited with Saori although she realised it would also bring challenges.

“It’s going to be difficult when my daughter comes over here to live, but I have to keep headstrong and focused,” Ms Iris said.

“With the double honours programme, we only do three modules each semester so there is a lot of work and studying to do at home.

“That means I’m at school for less than 15 hours a week and for most of that time my daughter will be in preschool anyway. But it also means I have to find the right balance between studying and being a mom.”

Ms Iris still has big goals ahead of her. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she plans to get her master’s and eventually enrol in a PhD programme.

Asked how she felt getting another shot at her dreams, she said it was “indescribable”.

“As a young mother it’s very difficult to think of putting yourself through school when you have a child,” she said. “You’re more focused on saving up so you can get that child through school later on down the road, so I can say it’s very rewarding and fulfilling to be here.

“I did it for my daughter, she is what kept me focused.

“I wanted to be able to provide for her and give her the best I could. I wanted to make her proud. That’s why I tell her ‘Now mommy is away in school, but I am doing it so that we can have a great life in the future.” Ms Iris is currently fundraising to get £1,000 to help with airfare and travel expenses to Sri Lanka.

Anyone interested in sponsoring her can visit: http://www.gofundme.com/calshaesslv.