Melissa ROWLEY

After ACC, I attended Belize Technical College, 1994-1996. From there I was jobless for one month before I landed my first JOB at Williamson Industries Ltd for two and a half years as a machine operator. We underwent training for approximately six months from February 1999 to August 1999 and on September 6th, 1999, I became a part of the Supreme Court family as a Court Stenographer Trainee. I obtained my para-legal certificate in 2003 and my A-Level Law in 2004 and became a full pledge Court Stenographer. The life of a Court Stenographer can be challenging and demanding at times. Right here, right now, at this very minute, I'm doing what I love and love what I'm doing. My sister would always say, "All you do is interfere into peoples business." Hey, that's my JOB, so naturally I would. YOU CAN HAVE IT YOUR WAY, even if it's not Burger King.

Best school story of all time: Fr. Valentine's mysterious appearances at our classroom during all those free periods. Often times he would have us stand on the basketball court in the broiling sun hot as punishment for not using our time wisely. The times we had with Mr. Blades, the no. 1 homeroom teacher of all time RIP, Mr. Blades; serving as an alter girl; selling food in the cafeteria. I never served a detention throughout my five years at ACC, so I don't know what's that like. The closest I got to serving one was four. I spent so many times around Fr. Valentine, the no. 1 principal of all times, that my friends used to tease me about being his long lost daughter. The discipline he instilled in us is the foundation that has been the stepping stone on which we walk. Our lunches under the detention tree. I will always remember those comforting words from Fr. Valentine when the time came for us to find out whether or not we would be saying our last goodbyes to ACC, "I sorry, but you will be graduating."