Proudest Moment of 2017

Last year was quite exciting - filled with fears, tears, new experiences, challenges and triumphs.

You survived, and that’s something to be proud of! While it’s all in the past, since today is #throwbackthursday, we have asked a few of our readers to share their proudest moment of 2017.
This is what they had to say:

Graduating from college and getting my degree was my proudest moment. I dropped out of the University of Technology in 2009, and I never thought I would ever be able to attend college again. But, the opportunity came, and after four more years of sleepless nights, all of my hard work paid off. I was able to complete my studies, graduating with a 3.7 GPA as a Magna Cum Laude honouree.
-S. C., female, 27, Kingston/Baltimore.

Competing at the Taste of Jamaica competition, and getting a silver medal was my proudest moment of 2017. I wasn’t expecting a medal, so it was really one of those milestone moments in my bartending career. It meant a lot to me.
-M.W., male, 29, Portmore.

Having my son last February was my proudest moment. He was the missing piece of the puzzle to complete our family.
-R.H., female, 26, Montego Bay.

Purchasing my first car because it has been a long time coming.
-H. S., male, 29, Molynes Road, St Andrew.

My proudest moment was seeing my mom being honoured at her retirement ceremony. I felt proud because I know she has been a very dedicated educator and was well deserving of the award.
-K. M., female, 29, St Catherine.

The birth of my second child. It has been a blessing and it came at a time when God knew what was about to happen next, the untimely passing of my father. 
-A.W., male, 32, Portmore.

I would say being on a panel of  doctors who gave a motivational speech to new doctors about the job climate in the United Kingdom and how to stay positive. I was the only non-European doctor selected to give the speech. It felt like I opened a door or even made a crack in the door for doctors like myself working here.
-Z. C., female, 31, Kingston.

My proudest moment was seeing my first born being badged as head girl. I know she is an outstanding student, but I had no idea she was doing good enough to be the head girl. We try as parents and balancing a career, and other aspects of life, makes it even harder so that was certainly a pat on the shoulders for us.
-R. B., female, 33, Molynes Rd, St Andrew.

My proudest moment of 2017 was committing to making 52 weeks of motivational videos and actually completing them. I did it to generate and share positivity — mainly for me to feel better, but it ended up inspiring many others. It was a hard road trying to record and edit them every week.  Some weeks they were late, but I never stopped posting them. So, week 52 was cool for me, because it reminded me that if I commit I can make it happen.  That applies to anything in life. So, I'm proud of completing something I said I would. I held myself accountable and I pushed through and it made me feel better.
-M. E., male, 34, Beverly Hills, St. Andrew.