Period: 2005 - 2008
Nationality: Trinidadian
Involvements: Shark Radio, Craig Town Outreach Programme, Lawn Tennis
My life on the A.Z. Preston Hall of Residence began in August 2005, when I left my country of Trinidad and Tobago to purse my undergraduate degree in Media and Communication at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. I was fortunate to live on Preston Hall for three years; the entire period of my studies in Jamaica.
While on Hall, I was one of the voices that my fellow Prestonites heard for three years, reading the nightly news over Preston’s “P.A. System” as I was one of the Hall’s radio news anchors for “Shark News.” Every Saturday morning, I dedicated my time to being a mentor in the Craig Town Mentorship Programme and I was also a member of Preston Hall’s lawn tennis team. On the wider campus I was a member of Trinidad and Tobago Student Association and volunteered in various Faculty activities/events.
Looking back at my years on A.Z. Preston Hall, I am extremely appreciative of the multi-cultural exposure and experiences it afforded me, as I was able to live and learn a lot from other Prestonites from other Caribbean countries and outside of the region. I believe living on Hall made me tougher as I was not in my comfort zone being away from home and it strengthened my ability to be independent. With the range of activities constantly taking place on Hall and having to balance my academic life, I think my time on Preston also made me a better time manager.
My development on Preston has proven valuable in the “real world.” In my current profession, I frequently interact with persons from all around the world. I believe my interactions on Preston in some way made this transition easy.
I am presently the Communications Officer of a regional organisation that promotes and advocates for the practice of a sustainable, integrated and resource-efficient management of water resources in the Caribbean. The organisation is 1 of 13 Regional Water Partnerships of a global organisation headquartered in Sweden.
Thank you A.Z. Preston Hall for the lessons learnt and the great experiences!