Living in Jamaica as a kid is not the easiest thing to do for 11-year-old Shantal Williams.

"I live in Spanish Town, Jamaica, with my mom,' explained Shantal."

My neighbourhood isn't too safe. It is filled with people, and fights tend to break out a lot, and there are lots of stray hungry dogs, but it doesn't have gangs."

Shantal lives in a two-bedroom house. "Its structure is pretty strong," she stated. "On the outside, most of the houses in my neighbourhood may look like shacks, but inside each of those houses it's really clean. People use a coconut brush when they clean. It gives the floor a shine, and leaves it looking like any other cleaning product would."

Jamaica is a poor island when it comes to money, but it doesn't stop the people from trying to look, and do their best.

"Children have to walk for miles to get to school, so we wake up early each day," Shantal said, describing her typical school day. "Before any child is allowed to go to school they have to eat breakfast and their clothes must be clean, no matter how poor they may be. If the family can't provide breakfast, the school does. Most of the shoes children wear to school are tailor made. It wasn't about fashion. It was about how long the shoes would last."

"Jamaica's schooling system is very strict. We have no time to play around in school; we have to hit the books. Each child goes to school with a goal in mind, because we all want to live better than our parents did."

Each school wears a different coloured uniform. The colours of Shantal's school, Spanish Town Primary, are white and blue. Although 11 years of age, Shantal is still in primary school because there are no middle schools in Jamaica.

In the evening time when all the children come home, they do their homework, and chores before they can go outside to play. Shantal's chores are to wash the dishes and take out the trash.

"In the evening when I'm finished my chores, I play outside with my friends," elaborated Shantal. "We play Dandy Shandy (a game similar to dodge ball, but instead of a ball, we use a small milk carton that's been stuffed with newspaper), hopscotch, and red light. Before bed the children in my neighbourhood all go to someone's house to watch TV since not everyone has a TV, or if not, we gather around and tell stories. On Sundays, all children are supposed to go to church."

Allanna, who will be entering The Berkeley Institute as a first year in September, noted, "I find it unusual that my cousin Shantal, who lives in Jamaica, and I have completely different lifestyles. Here in Bermuda when a kid wants to go out all they have to do is walk, take the bus, or get a ride from a parent. When children here need new stuff for school they buy it, but in Jamaica most of their school stuff is hand made.

"When I want to talk to an old friend I use my computer, but my cousin Shantal doesn't have a computer, and for that reason wasn't able to send a photo of herself in her school uniform. I think it's strange how two people can live totally differently, but in a way can still be the same, whether it be their goals, living conditions, or personality.

"We in Bermuda live in a rich country with nice people, on an island that can come together as a family. This is usually on Cup Match, and other celebrations. When we come together it's a beautiful sight.

"I find that the more you struggle in life, the harder you work to gain success. The reason why some children don't reach their full potential, I believe, is because almost everything they want they are given. The more we are given stuff, the less inclined we feel to work harder to gain anything. Most children in Bermuda worry more about fashion, than schoolwork. Some people do struggle to make a living in Bermuda, but we have opportunities to get an education that some kids can only dream of. I encourage all the children to recognise this, and acknowledge it by trying to make the best out of this new school year."

*Allanna is a regular contributor to The Royal Gazette's Young Observer page, which is part of the Newspapers in Education programme (see story on page 13). Allanna graduated Dellwood Middle School earlier this year and will be attending Berkeley Institute in September.