Meet Michelle

Mom, entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker.

In addition to her two sons, this big-hearted, caring, and considerate mother has fostered five boys and adopted one through the Montgomery County Child Welfare Services in Maryland.  

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Michelle currently sits at a place in life where she is happy with her achievements but still believes there is more out there; more to learn, more to do, and more to share. 

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With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s in healthcare administration (University of Maryland) Michelle currently holds the position of managing director at a prominent physical therapy practice.   She is the author of three books. In Search Of Self is a story of her journey as a teenage mom.  Against All Odds chronicles her struggles moving to the USA with her two boys and the eventual success she was able to create, in spite of her experiences.  Her last book is a compilation of poems of thoughts as she went through her many life experiences.

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Michelle’s current status in life is an anomaly to the beginning of her journey.  If you were to be guided by the early trajectory, she would have succumbed to the misfortunes, poverty, abuse, and self-esteem issues that were in her way.  In fact, you would not believe that this well-spoken storyteller and academic achiever was a very poor high school student and a dropout.

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Michelle was born in Mt. Salem, one of the inner cities of Montego Bay, Jamaica.  She moved to Glendevon, another area of Jamaica’s tourism capital, where she lived with her father and stepmother. She was sexually abused as a teen and got pregnant at age fourteen.  The pregnancy became one more hurdle in her way to achieving a better life.  But not even the difficulties of being a teenage mother could stop her.

Michelle was determined to go back to school as she saw education as her path to the life she wanted.  And that was how she became a client of the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation,  a bridge program that helps adolescent moms transition back into high school or vocational programs.  She continued her education at Maldon High School and eventually graduated.

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Michelle got her first job at a prominent hotel in Montego Bay, right out of high school.  She started out in the accounting department, before moving on to be the administrative assistant to the resident manager.  Not being satisfied with her education, she attended the Jamaica Institute of Business Careers where she attained certification as an administrative professional.  With the new certification came new opportunities and Michelle resigned from her first job to work as a human resource assistant at another major hotel. 

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She later got pregnant with her second child and life became unbearable.  Wanting a better life for herself and her two boys, Michelle migrated to the US in 2003 with her younger son and $300.00.  What seemed like the best option to achieve her dreams then, turned into a nightmare.  Michelle quickly realized that the fantasy stories of living in America were far from reality, especially for a young mother with two children and no college education.  She would not be deterred however and with a powerful determination to succeed she fought through the treacherous journey to become the person she is today.

Fun facts about Michelle

Inspired by Oprah

Loves to spend time with family and volunteering.

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Her favorites:

Food                   Salmon

Fruit                    Mango

Colour                Yellow

Movie                 Titanic

Book                   Power of now