Cherina Darrell-Sutherland has her sights set firmly on law, with the ambition of becoming a Minister of Education.However, eight months out of high school, she’s happy for now to run the schedules of about ten cleanersThe 18-year-old CedarBridge graduate is working around the clock to finance beginning law at the University of Essex, England, in September.“Wanting to be in politics is not something you tell people, but it’s the truth,” she said.“The only way to effect change is to do it yourself. When you come from a neighbourhood like mine, people can have poor expectations. I don’t want to be another person who abandons Bermuda.“This is my country and I want to do what I can.”Cherina is a proud resident of Angle Street, in Hamilton. She said: “I love my neighbourhood, but I don’t let my circumstances define me. Life is what you make it.”Directly upon graduation, she sought a job with the Bermuda Industrial Union in a quest for real-world experience.She said: “Because I want to work in law, I figured the best work I could get would be with the Union. And I can be very persistent. I could have got a summer job doing office work at the BIU, but what really interested me was negotiations. I was helping Graham Nesbitt, the assistant general secretary, and the chief organiser, George Scott.”After summer work Cherina took night courses at Bermuda College, and approached the Department of Labour and Training.“They asked me if I’d consider working in housekeeping. At the age of 18, I didn’t want to do it but it’s a job. I was referred to Gayle Ventures who runs Tempest Cave Ventures, which handles cleaning and maintenance for properties. I guess she liked my personality. I started work there the next day. I’m a field manager and assistant office manager.”Cherina’s job ranges from organising contracts and work permits for employees and dealing with complaints, to office management and arranging summonses for people who don’t pay their rent.“It’s tough sometimes. And I help out with housekeeping as well. But it’s all for studying law.“I save everything. If I make $573 in a week, I put $500 in the bank. And trust me, for a female to put aside $73 for the week isn’t easy. I work all these different jobs, and I’m still taking English classes at the college three nights a week. But that’s what it takes. My first year at the University of Essex is going to be expensive. I’m looking at a three year Bachelors and a one year Masters right now.”Growing up with a displaced hip, she said, also made her grow up fast.“I’ve been in and out of hospital since I was 10. It’s something that made me mature quickly. You deal with it.“I’m a city girl; I grew up on Angle Street and Cedar Avenue. It’s an area with a reputation, but I’m not bound by that I’d end up another statistic. You can’t wallow in self pity or just keep on complaining. It’s up to you to make something of yourself, because if you don’t, nobody else is going to do it for you.”