High school graduates of Jamaican descent fêted

TORONTO:

Participants in this year’s Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA) Graduates Programme were encouraged to recognise their inner voice and individual strengths, even as they embraced the power of community.

Nicole Maylor, who was in the batch of 2012, was the guest speaker at the 32nd annual graduates awards ceremony and luncheon held at the Jamaican Canadian Centre in Toronto.

Established in 1993, the graduates programme celebrates the achievement of Ontario high school graduates of Jamaican descent and supports their pursuit of post-secondary education. The programme which initially awarded a $500 bursary, has this year allocated some 28 bursaries totalling over $34,000.

“You must do what makes you happy, not for everyone around. Follow that little voice inside that you know is true. Take rest, breathe, be thankful for how far you’ve come, and prepare for the journey ahead. You’re all here today not by chance but by purpose,” said Maylor, who is a trained lawyer working as a Canadian foreign service officer at Global Affairs Canada.

She charted the path of her education gaining an honours Bachelor degree in international development and globalisation at the University of Ottawa. She also did the French immersion and cooperative education programmes.

BUILD NETWORKS

Maylor says she lost focus on her schoolwork after her grandfather died a few weeks into her first year. This she said sent her into a tailspin. Her enthusiasm was restored however hen she met two girls from the West Indian Students Ensemble.

“Thanks to them and the resilience I found within, I went on to do many things during my time at Ottawa. I was the vice president of equity affairs for my student union. I travelled to Taiwan for a summer to learn with and from Indigenous communities there and the similarities of their plight to that of Canadian First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.” She interned at a gender and justice organization in Cape Town, South Africa.

Acknowledging the support of family and friends through her “trials and tribulations,” Maylor said her ambition was restored and she felt ready to take on the world once more.

She told the graduates that no path is linear, sharing too that the decision to leave a law firm gave her the opportunity to return to school to pursue a master’s degree.

She said that at age 30, she felt tired and burnt out. Friends sent her therapist recommendations, her family checked in, and her partner was always there ready to listen, but it was her parents’ support that changed everything.

Always wanting to impress them, she was relieved when they told her to take time and rest. She contacted a therapist, took time off from work and included yoga, running, and journalling in her routine. Maylor encouraged the students to use her as a resource and to build networks.

LINEAGE OF TRAILBLAZERS

Speaking on behalf of the Class of 2025, Ayanna Simmonds said the event was a celebration of their education but also of their journey, sacrifice and the strength it took for them to get there.

“For us, as students of Jamaican descent, we carry something even more special – the strength of our heritage. We come from a lineage of trailblazers; people who had little but gave so much.

“When you think of the people who fought for freedom – leaders like Marcus Garvey and Miss Lou who used their voice to uplift generations – or modern icons like Usain Bolt or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who prove that the impossible is just another challenge. We are reminded that greatness runs through our veins.”

Simmonds said the journey would not always be easy and that life will test them and may hand them closed doors, unexpected detours or moments of doubt.

“But here is what I want you to remember, you are more than ready. You’ve made it this far, not by accident but through dedication and determination and wherever you go next – university or college – you already have what it takes. Your mind is your passport. Keep it sharp, keep it curious and keep it open,” said Simmonds in keeping with the event’s theme, “Education – Passport to the Future.”

Wayne Swaby, AJAA’s president, told the graduates that an investment in the youth is an investment in the future of the community.

“Research indicates that financial vulnerability disproportionately affects our youth, making them significantly more susceptible to negative financial outcomes such as high debt. By providing financial aid in the form of grants, we actively work to increase the likelihood of our students earning their degrees and minimising income inequality that our people often face,” he said.

Kurt Davis, consul general of Jamaica at Toronto, encouraged the students to make and keep connections with people as they progress through life.

“As you move past the secondary stage, I am encouraging you to step boldly into your destiny. The world is before you and you are equipped and empowered to face these challenges that the world is seeing and to help us to overcome them,” he told them.