What Does “New Generations” Mean?

To this end, Rotarian Hazel and I took some time to ask three successful young Caymanian professionals (all under the age of thirty) the following questions:

1. What has been the key factor contributing to your success?

2. What do you think is the number one issue facing Caymanian youth today?

What we got back from the participants was fascinating.

Eryka Simmons is a General Practitioner at the H.S.A. and had the following comments:

“Without hesitation I'd have to say family support is the greatest factor contributing to my success. Not just blood relatives but friends & my church family. For anyone pursuing a tertiary education, whether overseas or locally, the task at hand is daunting. Medicine, though longer than most studies, is no more daunting, it just always felt like a continual browbeating!  That said I know without the support of my friends and family, but more specifically my parents & siblings, I wouldn't have made it.

We often lose sight of how significant a simple word of encouragement can be and how it can change the course of our lives.  I was fortunate enough to always have that support, even when I myself had given up. It is because of those unwavering people that I am the person I am today.

The number one issue facing Caymanian Youth?  As I've only just recently returned home I doubt I'm the best person to comment on this issue, but I feel that the (Caymanian) youth today are very discouraged.

Amidst the daily fights in the media of "Caymanian vs Non-Caymanain" I think our young people are at a loss for their future. Many seem to have lost the drive for higher education or even job seeking. As well they don't feel the more lucrative jobs could ever be a reality for them.

The issues need to be less about fighting amongst ourselves and more about how can we ensure a future for our youth. It is my understanding that we're now implementing trade skills for Year 12 students. I believe that Trade Schools, their incorporation from early in the education system and of course encouragement for them would make a resounding difference.   Not everybody is destined for University, that said Trade schools are by no means a lesser choice nor are they to be looked down on. They provide opportunities which currently are unavailable, & create more local business.

Our forefathers were renowned for being skilled with their hands. Its time we embrace our heritage and expand on it. Maybe then our youth and future generations will have a chance.”

Joel Rose is a Surgical Resident at The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and had this to say:

 
“There are several things that have helped me get to the point where I am today.  First and foremost without God none of my success would have been possible.  I believe that he surrounded me by key people in my life and guided my footsteps each step of the way.  He opened doors for me that I thought were closed and reassured me whenever I had moments of doubt.  I was very involved in church and youth meeting, and know now that this was paramount in shaping me into the Man that I am today.  I am grateful to my home church, Bodden Town Church of God for being a constant positive influence in my life.  Secondly, my parents were instrumental in my growth spiritually, mentally and physically.  The instilled discipline at an early age and insured that I maintained a specific order: God ,  Family and friendships, then everything else.  Thirdly I am grateful to the many family members and friends who supported me financially, created job opportunities, knew someone in a certain position to help me along the way, or supported me through prayer.  There have been many occasions where I could feel the prayers of others supporting me as I took exams, were in difficult situations or when my health was not 100%.  Fourthly I am thankful to the various organizations, schools, scholarship committees that have sponsored me over the years and help make my education possible, The Cayman Islands Government, Triple C School, The United World College, Maples and Calder, Emory University, University of Connecticut, East Carolina University.   Finally but certainly not least, I am also grateful for the opportunity to shadow numerous professionals such as Mr. Orren Merren, Dr. Steve Tomlinson and work with Fosters Food Fair, Cayman Health Services Authority, Center of Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia with Dr. Paul Rota, and Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville North Carolina.
 
The youth of today are faced with so many challenges, but one of the worst problems and had received a lot of press is that, in Cayman our youth are now facing the threat of violence, more than ever before.  They are exposed to violence in our music, television, at school, and when they are out.  Many young people are choosing to get involved in the drug life, and gang life because of wanting to make easy money, wanting to have a sense of identity and because they fail to see the implications of their choices.  We have allowed outside influences to be the more influential The more that we take Christ out of the equation I believe that this problem will continue to rise.  What can we do to help solve the problem?  It is up to us to mentor our youth and to show them a different way.  Get involved with 1 or 2 individuals, to be an example and just to be there for them.”
 
Danielle Japal is a Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Education (and a past President of Rotaract),and as such has maybe the closest working relationship with youth today of any of our participants.  She credits a solid educational foundation as probably most contributing to her success thus far.

As for the number one issue facing Caymanian youth today? “I think there are several, but most prominent is that there is a high occurrence of illiteracy in our youth, and we are not catching this issue early enough; this problem therefore manifests itself in later years as misbehavior, misconduct and truancy, which compounds the problem – especially after the compulsory school age. 

Rotary has been an extraordinary influence in my life these past three years.  Through Rotary I’ve been afforded the opportunity to get involved with and give back to my community, I’ve been given new perspectives as I traveled for Rotaract and interacted with Rotaractors and Rotarians from around the world, I’ve grown professionally by participating in various trainings offered exclusively through Rotary and Rotaract, and I’ve forged relationships that I will treasure (and maybe even exploit, for the benefit of all concerned) for the rest of my life.”

Eryka Simmons, Joel Rose and Danielle Japal: Three great examples of success among Cayman’s New Generation!