A teenager convicted of the manslaughter of college-bound student Kellon Hill claims his life was transformed by Government's Mirrors Programme.

Kellan Lewis successfully completed the youth empowerment programme, part of which while serving a 12-year prison sentence.

The 18-year-old said the initiative taught him about the consequences of his actions and the true value of life. Lewis was one of 37 young people to complete the third phase of the Mirrors Programme on Saturday. Michela Outerbridge, 17, who was shot in a drive-by shooting on Easter Sunday also completed the programme.

In a speech read out during the completion ceremony at the Berkeley Institute, Lewis talked about the bad choices that landed him in jail and offered the other graduates a message of hope.

He said: "We all believe life is long until we look back and it's gone. We only have one chance at this journey, so why waste it?

"Why wait until your in your 50s to try to get it right? Whatever it is you're out to do, do it to your fullest extent.

"Don't waste time for trouble, stress or anything that seems to become a burden and walk around knowing that your situation can only get better if you work to better it. Be blessed and live the life of change."

Mirrors is an empowerment programme open to youths under the age of 25.

It consists of a six-day intensive residential component and a nine-month follow-through phase, which gives young people the chance to evaluate their attitudes and core beliefs.

Lewis began the Mirrors Programme last November while on bail for the killing of Mr. Hill.

The 18-year-old was fatally stabbed during a late-night party at Elbow Beach on August 9, 2008.

Lewis was one of five teens including Kevin Warner, Zharrin Simmons, Gary Hollis, and Devon Hairston on trial for the murder. He alone was convicted of the attack. For Lewis most of the programme was carried out while behind bars. His 'committed partners' — Andre Place and Kerry Judd — visited Westgate Correctional Facility each week for coaching sessions and kept in contact with him through letters.

Without being aware of any of his past, Ms Judd said she was able to get to know Lewis on a personal level instead of defining him based on his past experiences and home or social environment.

She told The Royal Gazette: "In Kellan I began to see somebody who actually saw possibilities for himself and in seeing that decided to make goals and who from day one set the goals and worked towards them.

"I saw someone who was willing to reach out to get support, who wasn't afraid to ask for help... for many young people in the programme, asking them to trust someone in any capacity is like asking them to put their life on the line.

"I saw a young man who was willing to reach out for support, who was willing to be open and talk about the challenges he was facing and open to the idea there was potential, a different way to approaching challenges."

Ms Judd admitted feeling like a "proud momma" watching Lewis and the other participants complete the programme.

Lewis' mother Jan Martin said she felt "proud" of the accomplishment.

"I was very touched with the speech that he made, knowing that I have seen growth in him spiritually and mentally."

Lewis said he went through a "rough time" leading up to his trial. Some nights he would stare at the walls of his prison cell and think about his family and the pain and anguish they were going through.

Most of his friends and his girlfriend left him "hanging" and his only solace was through his reignited faith in God, he said.

While on bail the situation wasn't much better and he took the advice of an aunt and enrolled in the Mirrors Programme.

"Little did I know I was still harbouring negative feelings deep within my soul. I chose to loosen up and take a chance with my situation. The six-day residential came up and I chose to put my all into the programme.

"I opened up to new friends, I shared some of my most painful thoughts and experiences. I allowed myself to let it all out and cry. Before that I couldn't cry, so it almost felt that way."

He said the programme helped him find "new solutions to old problems", taught him to set goals and stick to them and to search for the purpose of his life.

"With all the good things I've accomplished I realised that I am proven strong enough to avoid trouble, and now I realise this is my test to see if I can endure the pain and misfortunes and still keep a good attitude and positive outlook on life."