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Despite heavy rainfall that affected areas of the island two weeks ago, a determined Cavon Reid traversed treacherous roads to walk across the stage and collect his first degree.

Reid, who now holds Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in accounting and a minor in finance and banking, graduated from the University of Technology, Jamaica, on November 17. However, hours before the ceremony, heavy rainfall began to flood sections of the island, including his home parish of St Thomas.

Still, the 32-year-old refused to miss his graduation and left the rural Rowlandsfield community at 4 a.m. to get to Kingston by 9 a.m. He told THE WEEKEND STAR that the journey was a difficult one, as the charted taxi had to navigate flooded roads, manoeuvre landslides and make its way around fallen trees.

"I wanted to walk graduation because I didn't walk graduation in high school, so I needed to show up," Reid said. Despite the conditions of the roadway, he started the journey with faith because he believed God would get him to his destination on time.

"On the journey there were trees in the road. So my brother and the driver had to come out the car because I am all dressed up in graduation clothes and well clean. They had to come out of the car and move trees out the road just for me to reach graduation," he added.

Reid who was only 11 when he developed a passion for accounting, because he had a love for numbers.

"I walked the stage to show persons in my age group that you can go out there and achieve what you want in life and no matter the failures, hold yuh head up and move forward," said Reid, who completed his degree in five years, having started his tertiary studies at age 27.

For Reid, acquiring his degree was not an easy task, because although he did well at the secondary school level, he left Paul Bogle High School in St Thomas with just two subjects.

"I think I have a phobia for exams," Reid said. "So even when I'm doing good in class, when I see the paper coming, it's like I am totally blank."

After Paul Bogle, Reid then enrolled at St Thomas Technical High School to acquire five more subjects. After starting university, he decided that he would not let his fears deter him.

"Moving forward to university, I told myself that I have to leave with my degree, I have to achieve. So whether or not I have an exam phobia, I have to overcome it," Reid said. "In university, even if I pass with a 'C', it feels so good."

Currently, Reid is on the hunt for a job and hopes to find one in his field of study, after which he intends to pursue a master's degree in accounting.