'I constantly and intentionally speak positive words over my life and reject negative words spoken by others'
Q: What’s your hometown?
A: Portmore, Jamaica W.I.
Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College?
A: I wanted to explore the possibility for a career change or merging of my previous career experiences with a new career path. I went to an OC recruitment activity in Kingston, Jamaica, then applied for the program and was successful.
Q: How did you choose the Criminal and Social Justice program?
A: I worked in the human services prior to coming to Canada and believe this was the best program to empower me to assist my fellow human beings, as well as take me on the educational journey I wanted to explore.
Q: What is your area of interest?
A: Having worked with children and youths before, I am interested in children and youth programs that deals with criminal and social justice.
Q: What do you like most about the program?
A: I like learning about all the Canadian laws and the avenues for criminal and social justice. Also, examining cases where these laws have been applied, tested and have brought about changes to the Canadian justice system.
Q: Favourite class experience?
A: I like having personnel from the different areas of criminal and social justice doing guest lectures and sharing real life experiences.
Q: What do you do as a volunteer Peer Mentor in the Aboriginal Lounge?
A: Working at the Aboriginal Lounge has been a wonderful experience. I can mentor my peers by providing insight and support from a student perspective. Also, I can assist in guiding them to the right avenues for getting assistance when needed to help them on their educational journey.
Q: Who gave you the best advice you ever received?
A: My late senior pastor and spiritual father gave me the best advice. He always said, “Words are spirits and words are life. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Speak life over your life.” As such, I constantly and intentionally speak positive words over my life and reject negative words spoken by others.
Q: What advice do you have for new OC students?
A: Be positive, believe in yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone. Use the support systems that are in place to help you. Rest, relax, make new friends and have fun learning.
Q: Where are you the happiest?
A: I am happiest anywhere or anytime I can share my faith and loving others unconditionally.
Q: What matters most to you right now?
A: There is so much hate, anger and pain in the world. It is very important to me that I share unconditional love, and be a channel of forgiveness, peace and joy.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: In the next ten years I see myself expanding my real estate business in Jamaica, owing a business in Canada, and positively contributing to criminal and social justice for children and youths.
Criminal Social Justice Diploma
The Criminal and Social Justice program provides students with an Arts-based criminal and social justice education. It is a two-year, four-semester program in which students will take a variety of criminal and social justice-related courses in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science and Criminology, as well as elective Arts courses of personal interest. Some fields of inquiry may include Indigenous studies, gender studies, race and ethnicity, globalization and poverty.
About the Penticton campus
With an active and energetic learning community, the Penticton campus is the perfect place for students to discover life-long relationships and their path to success. Students benefit from the region’s array of four-season outdoor activities, from kayaking and paddle boarding on Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, to skiing and snowboarding at Apex Mountain only minutes away.