Law graduate inspires with comeback story

On New Year’s Day 2026, at exactly 12:58 p.m., Amanda Lawes wrote down a list of goals for the year ahead. At the very top was a bold declaration: “In 2026 I will be on the pass list.” Nine months later, the 25-year-old’s words became reality when her name appeared among the successful graduates of the Norman Manley Law School.

Lawes, who crossed the stage on September 26, said the note became her source of motivation after she suffered a crushing setback the year before when she failed her second year and was forced to start over.

“The exam was my issue,” she said of her second year pursuing her legal education certificate at The University of the West Indies, Mona-based institution. “I had to start over second year.”