2004 POINT SCHOLARS

Rohan A. S. Barrett

University of Illinois at Chicago

Concentration: Education, Honors College

Rohan was born and raised in Jamaica, where he was considered “perverted and sick” because of his homosexuality. His family ostracized him, so he fled to live with an aunt in the United States. When she rejected him after he came out to her, Rohan was plagued by suicidal thoughts. Fortunately, he found friends who provided him housing. Despite these adversities, Rohan excelled in high school graduating with a 3.5 GPA and earning admission to the Honors College of the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has been active in his community, supporting LGBT youth programs and local political campaigns. He wants to be a mathematics teacher in the future.

In Rohan’s own words: “I want to be a leader and role model because I didn’t have one. I have the strength, perseverance and vigor to be a great leader both in college and as a teacher . . . In this way, I see the classroom as an extended family.”

Article on Rohan Barrett — Windy City Times, 6/23/04