Page 13 - UWI QUALITY CIRCLE Vol.19 May 2017

My Success Story
BY MR. DELMAR TAYLOR ALUMNUS, THE UWI OC
Success has always been a main goal in my life and in order to ful l this goal I knew it was essential for me not only to enter a eld that I am passionate about, but also to obtain a job that I love doing. I grew up in a single parent home with seven (7) siblings and my mother was the sole provider for our family. In my early adolescent years, I developed strong communication and entrepreneurial skills interacting with tourists as I recall working with my mother in the straw market in downtown Nassau. I was not deterred by my humble upbringing but rather it motivated me to reach for higher heights and pursue a tertiary education.
In 2004, I successfully completed the College Preparation programme at The Bahamas Baptist Community College; shortly thereafter, I was accepted at The College of the Bahamas where I enrolled in Primary Education. I completed two (2) years at the College of the Bahamas on a government grant but I quickly realised that primary education did not satisfy my passion. In my pursuit of opportunities to serve my country I enlisted in The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) on June 19th 2006. Education had since been put on the back burner in my life but I always felt the constant nudge to continue, and complete a college education.
In August 2012, I was transferred to Eleuthera, family island district of The Royal Bahamas Police Force. Once I settled at my new post I felt that nudge to study yet again. I started my search for an online school; one that was reliable and recognised worldwide. I never would have
imagined in a million years being accepted into The University of the West Indies, Open campus!
In January 2013, I travelled to Toronto Canada to visit a friend; ironically and quite by surprise, he was an e-tutor for The University of the West Indies Open Campus. My eyes lit up as he shared with me the information on Open Campus. He sent me an ULR link via email and once home I began the student enrolment process. After many telephone calls and much persistence, I was nally accepted into the Associate Degree in Business Management for the 2013/2014 academic year. From that day to now I was lled with excitement and enthusiasm as I started my journey.
On July 1st 2016 I received an e-mail stating that I had completed the Associate Degree in Business Management with upper second class honours. Whilst reading this e-mail message it became so real to me that I had done it! I nally accomplished my desired goal of becoming a graduate and receiving an invitation to attend graduation in St. Kitts and Nevis was only the icing on the cake. On October 10th 2016, I travelled to St. Kitts and Nevis for graduation; my family was unable to attend graduation with me because of the impending passage of Hurricane Matthew, which was forecasted to touch every island within the archipelago of The Bahamas. Nonetheless, while in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Open Campus staff, and my fellow graduates became family! The memories, the love, and concern felt at graduation will forever be etched in my memory. Immediately after completing the associate degree in social sciences, I began the BSc. Management Studies (Human Resource Management) which I am currently perusing. My ultimate goal is to become an attorney specialising in arbitration, and to one-day sit as a Supreme Court judge in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
My favourite passage of scripture has been: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have towards you declares the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end” (KJV).
My Mantra: “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden ight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I will continue to toil upward until I accomplish my heart’s desire.
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