A bout of misfortune at a young age usually makes way for a lifetime of crime and violence. Thankfully for Dillon Smithen his life story is the true definition of what it means to be a victor and not a victim—a hallmark example of rising above adversity. Dillon did not enjoy a typical childhood like most of his peers. In what can only be described as a tumultuous upbringing, Dillon endured many unfortunate circumstances at a young age. His setbacks began when his mother left him at the hospital at birth—she could not physically and financially take care of him.
As ‘a child of the hospital’, bouncing from house to house on the weekends, Dillion fi nally reunited with his mother at the age of six. He could never unwrite that chapter of abandonment from his life which eventually led him to a period of juvenile delinquency. At a young age Dillon was a child and still an adult, his independence erupted into anti-social and disruptive behavior. For Dillon, taking care of himself regrettably meant by any means necessary including breaking the law. Dillon began stealing, and house breaking—activities which ultimately landed him in prison for a short stint.
With the sole intention of teaching him a lesson, the Rawlins native’s 4-month imprisonment sparked a change in his life at the age of 14. Though he felt he could have handled prison he had a hard time coping. Typically, Dillon is surrounded by pressures to return to deviancy, he is committed never to return to prison.
His personal decision to change combined with his determination to make a better life for himself, allowed him to complete high school with three CSEC subjects. Dillon began to turn his life around with encouragement from teachers and mentors in his community. He pushed himself to be the first person in his family to complete high school even if it meant staying up late and studying. While a full time student, Dillon worked various jobs on the weekends to provide for himself—this often meant sleeping during school hours.
Embodying his love for community involvement, Dillon enrolled in the Nevis Red Cross Society, and assists at sporting activities, he is also a member of the Gingerland Pathfinder Club, the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, and the BETA Boys Club of Gingerland. His community eff orts also include volunteering for beach clean ups, and at the Alexandria Hospital and Flamboyant Home.
To date, Dillon uses his life story to discourage teenagers from using drugs, stealing, joining gangs, and bullying. Dillon is an advocate for nonviolence and is employed at the Nevis Agro Processing Center. Dillon wishes one day to go back to school to further his education.
Dillon Smithen, 19 years