A cash-strapped mother is asking the community for help in sending her son, diagnosed with learning disorders, away to university.

Penelope Greene's son Ivan, 21, has the main ingredients for academic success: determination and enthusiasm.

What he lacks is money.

Mr. Greene has his plane ticket to attend Oakwood University as a freshman and the Corporation of St. George has awarded him a $3,000 bursary.

However his mother still has to find $19,000 owed towards college tuition.

Just getting accepted into college was a major accomplishment for Mr. Greene.

"When I was younger I went to a middle school for three years and then a home school," said Mr. Greene. "I just played around and was not really serious about school."

At the age of nine he was diagnosed with learning disabilities attention deficit disorder (ADD) and dyslexia. People with ADD sometimes struggle with concentration, and people with dyslexia struggle with reading.

He has never fully accepted the diagnosis.

"I am willing to prove that if I have these disorders, they are not going to stop me," he said. "I don't want any special treatment; because that wouldn't satisfy me."

Eventually, his former pastor at the St. George's Seventh-day Adventist Church, Roger Bernard, sat down and had a talk with him.

"He talked to me about making more mature decisions about my life and my future," said Mr. Greene. "He advised me to go to the Bermuda Institute. I made a decision to make the more mature decision rather than follow some of my friends."

Mr. Greene went to the Bermuda Institute at the age of 17. He was put in grade nine.

"When I went to high school they asked me if I had been diagnosed with any learning disabilities," he said. "I told them what I had been diagnosed with, but I asked not to be treated any differently give me the same work. I graduated with a 2.5 grade point average (GPA).

"I had some ups and downs and struggles," he said. "Getting school work done and accomplished was a big struggle for me."

"I have been trying to teach my son that life is all about choices," said Ms Greene. "I also have a daughter, Tianny, who is 23. She is currently at the Bermuda College."

Ms Greene said throughout high school it was a challenge keeping her son motivated.

"It took a lot of concentration, a lot of teachers and a lot of friends to help him," she said. "This was work from day to day."

Ms Greene said one thing that helped was music.

Mr. Greene's passion is playing the piano. He practises for several hours every night and he has written music for church.

"Playing the piano has helped him to stay focused," said his mother. "When other kids were out on the street, he was inside practising."

She said two teachers who particularly helped him were Ruth Barnum and Roger Trott.

"I think being at the Bermuda Institute was a great experience for Ivan," she said. "When he graduated everyone stood up and cheered for him. Whether it was his friends, classroom, teachers and parents, family everyone got up and cheered for Ivan.

"I cried at his graduation. He had to do a lot of work to get to that point. He even spent time weekends studying with his teacher to help him get where he had to go. It was a struggle but I am glad to know he made it."

After the Bermuda Institute he went to the Bermuda College where he achieved a GPA of 2.7, but his heart was set on going abroad.

"In January, I decided to go away to Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama to start my new journey," he said.

His mother is a single parent. Just getting him away for the winter semester was a tremendous financial effort, that was achieved through the help of friends, and also his church.

"Our pastor Stefan Burton-Schnull, and our church community helped us," she said.

He spent the winter taking prep classes at the university and learning about his surroundings and environment.

"It has been really good," he said. "I know what to do for the next semester."

Mr. Greene said he didn't have any homesickness, he was so happy to be away.

Although he loves music, his ultimate career goal is to help other young men like himself.

"I would like to help train them up so they can one day reach their fullest potential so they can see the value in themselves," he said. "I would like to help to empower them."

He said he may do this by becoming a school counsellor.

Mr. Greene is already helping to give back to the community. He mentors a younger boy and has also taken part in Mirrors, a programme which aims to empower and inspire young people.

"I would like to see other young men get off the streets and try to develop themselves in a more positive way," he said. "It is all about knowing that you have a choice about what road you want to take."

This summer, he tried working in construction, but unfortunately developed an allergic reaction and had to stop.

"He hasn't given up," his mother said. "He believes in God and he has faith. I told him that hopefully someone out there will see that he is on a good path and help him.

"He has done a good job for himself."

Anyone willing to help can telephone 441-337-0665 or 441- 278-5719 or email igreene@hotmail.co.uk or Penelope.greene@awac.com">Penelope.greene@awac.com.