-Meet Ilive Peltier
By: Joanne B.
Every morning Ms. Ilive Peltier comes to school with a bright smile on her face, greeting everyone in a friendly manner. Ms. Peltier is a tall, comely woman who dresses with bright, eccentric colors in a classy way.
Picking mangoes, coconuts, and guavas on weekends during vacation, and daily visits to the beach during the summer were some of the things Ms.Peltier did during her childhood. In December the coffee crop was ripe and ready in Dominica, so she spent Christmas vacations picking coffee, oranges and grapefruit on the farm.
“I remember my child hood days and they were wonderful. I grew up with both parents being married. I had six siblings and my family had a farm. There was always plenty to eat, both in terms of fruits and vegetables and meat. In the village where I grew up there were many large families, and the children found many opportunities to play together. Very few people had televisions, and a telephone was not found in every home, so children spent time outdoors.”
She had a great time meeting new friends when she moved to high school in the city of Roseau, in Dominica. “Teenage boys and girls got together, but it was usually casual friendships, and as a result I was given the opportunity to decide who I wanted to go out with.”
After graduating from Secondary School, she got a teaching certificate from Dominica Teachers College, and then later she attended the University of the Virgin Islands and graduated with a degree in English. Ms Peltier said, “I grew up at a time where families had farms and were unable to provide funds for children to go to college, so scholarships were very few and students got selected on the basis of academic achievements.
“My aspiration was always never to own a farm or stay on one for the rest of my life. I read so many books about other places that I always wanted to go, to get out and see how other people lived.” But Ms. Peltier added, “I miss home and I prefer Dominica. Why? Dominica it is my birth place and the country which granted me my humble beginnings.”
Her role models are her parents, because they worked hard and were able to find time to educate and raise seven children. “In this culture I had learned how to be responsible, caring and respectful to follow human beings,” she said proudly.
Her current occupation is a high school English teacher. “I enjoy teaching greatly!” said Ms. Peltier. “I taught 2nd - 7th grade for 19 years in the V.I. and Dominica,” she said in her Dominican accent. She chose to go back to teaching, after leaving Dominica “Because I believe that every student can learn if they are provided with the support and belief that they can. When I moved here, I realized that many students needed an adult or teacher to help them understand the importance of education.”
She confided, “My advice to young adults is to be grateful and respectable. Work hard to achieve what you want in life and from life. Be honest with yourself and others, but most of all is be happy because by sharing, you receive great self satisfaction.”
Now at the age of 43, she is a married Roman Catholic and a mother of three; the oldest is 18 years and the youngest is two years. Ms. Peltier enjoys writing children’s books, stories and poetry, so after retirement she is hoping to become a published writer and continue to travel. “I enjoy reading, traveling and visiting museums,” she said.
“Live and enjoy life like the next minute you will be gone” is Ms. Ilive’s motto. At this point she has no regrets.” I have arrived at a place in my life that I am really grateful for everything that has happened to me and for me, all the experiences, whether good or bad, have molded me into the strong person I am today,” Ms. Peltier said confidently.