Six more stories of the 25 Most Remarkable Teens in St. Kitts. Kids committed to finding a way to make whatever it is they do in their life matter.Citizenship
Tishanna Hazel believes that a good citizen should do their share to make their school, their community and the world a better place by participating in community service, taking care of the environment, and treating other people with respect and dignity.
Tishanna does all that and more. A thoughtful young woman, Tishanna strives to be a community resource and work towards the betterment of her country and fellow citizens. Tishanna believes that young people need to do whatever they can both individually and collectively to be good citizens and ready themselves to become tomorrows leader today. Tishanna believes that everyone can be a good leader if they are committed to cooperative collaboration.
As Valedictorian of her graduating class at Basseterre High School, Tishanna tested for 12 subjects, earning 11 distinctions. She has been an active participant in many academic competitions throughout her life, and was part of the Junior Achievement Entrepreneurial program where her team created and operated a successful business. Tishanna was also a member of a group called Teen Challenge from first through fifth form. Teen Challenge is a religious club with the mission of spreading the spiritual message that through God anything is possible. Tishanna continues to serve as an advisory member for Teen Challenge today.
Tishanna enjoys singing too as part of the Choral Ensemble at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and in the choir at her church; Tishanna believes that singing is an expression of your emotions. “Sometimes you are able t touch people’s hearts when you sing,” she says. Tishanna feels strongly that self esteem is the most important characteristic to future success because it is in believing in yourself that you find the internal strength to make good choices. “You can avoid being influenced to do the wrong thing if you have high self esteem,” she says. Tishanna also feels it is important to have goals. “Without goals you don’t have anything to work toward. I believe in myself and I know I can do whatever I put my mind to.”
Tishanna will be entering her second year at Clarence Fitzroy College this fall where she is studying science and math. She plans to continue her education in medical school with the career goal of becoming a physician specializing in Internal Medicine. Tishanna is a 17 year old graduate of Basseterre High School. She receives the Remarkable Teen award in the category of Citizenship.
Zahir Harris
Music
A talented musician, Zahir Harris plays multiple instruments including piano, organ, guitar and trumpet. In 2011, he was the first and only student from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to engage in the Caribbean Examinations Council Music Exam at the advanced level. He has also passed several examinations at the London based Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) including the piano examination at grade levels one through seven with merits and distinctions. He is currently enrolled in the grade eight classes, the highest level offered at the Pamela Wall School of Music. In addition, Zahir passed the ABRSM trumpet examination and the Piano Theory examination with distinction scoring 98 out of 100. Zahir was a member of the Basseterre High School Orchestra and is currently the youngest member of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Band performing at a variety of functions including festivals and parades. Zahir also excels as a student of information technology earning certifications from the National I.C.T. and Ministry of Education in computer and applications, graphical art and animation, multi media and digital and Photoshop. He has served as a junior facilitator at training sessions where he has been awarded for his outstanding skills.
Zahir is a student of many interests and talents and athletics is one of them. He is a member of the Molineux football team, a junior member of the St. Kitts Frigate Bay Development Golf Club, an avid basketball player, and a former member of the national under 15 football team.
Zahir is especially active in the Anglican Church where in 2010 he was confirmed by the Rt. Rev Bishop Leroy Brooks. Since 2006, Zahir has served as a senior acolyte at St. Mary’s and Christ Anglican Churches, and since 2009 has assumed the role as organist at St. Georges Anglican Church, serving as the youngest church organist in the church’s history. Zahir is also the official house organist for the second and fourth Sundays at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Cayon. Zahir is currently enrolled at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College. He would like to continue his education and attend medical school with the career plan to become a surgeon. Zahir is a 16 year old recent graduate of Basseterre High School. He is being honored as a Remarkable Teen under the category of Music.
Taveda Isaac
Fashion Design
A struggling student at Basseterre, Taveda Isaac finally found her niche a couple of years ago when she enrolled in a textiles and design class. “I love the feel of fabric,” she says. “The colors, the patterns, they inspire me to be creative. I can envision how they will fit. Whenever I get something in my head, I create a tiny version with things I have nearby, and then I can’t wait to get home to my sewing machine to make the real thing. Everything about fashion and design fascinates me.”
Nominated by Maxine Walters, her textile and design teacher at Basseterre High School, Taveda credits Mrs. Walters with motivating her to explore her creativity. “She’s taught me everything I know, and she is always there to support me.” Taveda is currently enrolled in AVEC, the Advanced Vocational and Education Center, taking Business Secretarial courses. The two year program will teach her a variety of skills including typing, English, math, computer and life skills. When asked how she feels about being honored as a remarkable teen today Taveda says, “I’ve never been recognized for being good at anything before. It feels really good to know that somebody finally noticed me.”
Taveda plans to continue to advance her skills as a seamstress by taking private classes with skilled tailors and designers on island. She hopes to eventually teach the textiles and design course in high schools and to share her passion for design with others. Taveda’s life goal is to open a clothing store here in St. Kitts.
Taveda is an 18 year old graduate of Basseterre High School. She receives the Remarkable Teen award in the category of Fashion Design.
N'Kosi Lucas
Courage to Overcome: Personal Challenge
N’Kosi Lucas found the transition to high school overwhelming. He started his high school life at Verchilds as a remedial student placed in form 1V4. Surprised and unhappy with his placement, N’Kosi felt intimidated by classmates who he says were mostly repeaters. In March of that year he stopped attending school altogether, dressing for school and then waiting for his parents to leave the house for work before returning home where he spent the day hiding his truancy from both his parents and his teachers. In July of that year, his parents found out about his truancy when Child Protective Services officers came to his house with a summons. The officers questioned N’Kosi, thinking that it was his parents who had been keeping him from school. N’Kosi was frightened and promised to return to school the following term. He was given a reprieve and again placed in remedial classes as a form 2V4 student. N’Kosi was now even further behind. He says he was bullied and beaten up by classmates who were angry at him for his learning failures calling him stupid and blaming him for keeping the class behind. Running from his problems, N’Kosi again decided to be truant, but this time was caught after a month and given the ultimatum of returning to school immediately or facing consequences through the courts.
It was then that N’Kosi realized he was in trouble, his life terribly off course. “I knew I needed to change… now,” he says, and with the help of school counselors and family, N’Kosi began the journey to turn his life around. But this turn around wasn’t only in academics, N’Kosi also became a school leader and an active volunteer in the community. When N’Kosi graduated from Verchilds, he had served as President of the Prom/Graduating Committee, President of Student Council, and was a 15 hour a week volunteer at the community library.
N’Kosi tested in eight subjects, passing all; one with distinction. Electronic Document Preparation Management is a skill he has mastered and enjoys sharing with others as he continues to volunteer to tutor anyone who needs help in this area.
N’Kosi believes that he is lucky to have had the support of caring adults even after making so many bad decisions. “I was young and stupid,” he says, “always blaming others for what was wrong with my life. It was when I was willing to admit my mistakes and accept the constructive criticism of others that I finally found the courage to change.”
N’Kosi is enrolled online in the Penn Foster College Associate Degree in Human Resources Management program. He has completed his first semester and is looking forward to continuing in his pursuit of an AA degree.
N’Kosi is an 18 year old graduate of Verchilds High School. N’Kosi receives the Remarkable Teen award in the category of Courage to Overcome: Personal Challenge.
Kayla Weekes
Campus Leadership
Valedictorian and President of her graduating class at Irishtown Primary, Kayla continues her leadership activities as Secretary of Cayon High School Student Council. A member of the school dance club, Kayla also loves to sing and dance. She enjoys cooking too, volunteering to cook for scout outings and other youth functions.
Friends describe Kayla as generous, helpful, loyal and kind. Teachers consider her a role model with excellent leadership qualities, recognized by the P.T.A. for her involvement in school and community life.
Kayla cares deeply about her country and hopes to contribute to finding solutions for the crime and violence that plague her generation. She believes strongly that everyone can make a contribution and make a difference.
Kayla is also a leader with initiative, spearheading a school wide fundraising effort to raise money to buy a tent for students to stand under during assemblies. She hopes to recruit others to help a local taxi driver who is beautifying neighborhoods by planting yellow bells. Kayla wants to experience as much as she possibly can during her high school years, taking advantage of the multitude of enrichment activities and educational opportunities open to students at Cayon High.
Kayla Weekes is a 14 year old student at Cayon High School. She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a psychiatrist. Kayla receives the Most Remarkable Teen award in the category of Campus Leadership.
DeLonte Lewis
Civic Involvement
DeLonte Lewis seeks to involve himself in almost every aspect of the community. He believes strongly that it is through a combination of communication and action that modern society can find solutions to almost every situation.
While a student at CEMSS, DeLonte served as a member of the Student Council for four years. He was also an active youth organizer and has been a consistent voice for his peers. DeLonte loves to plan and organize. Committed to his position as class leader, DeLonte organized numerous activities to encourage student participation and then spearheaded fundraisers to support those activities. In fifth form, DeLonte chaired the first ever prom committee, an endeavor he rates as highly successful.
DeLonte is presently a planning member of the group YEDEA, Youth Empowering Development through Arts and Entertainment. As part of this group, members plan and organize events for talented young people to entertain and raise money for local causes. They are currently producing a musical recital scheduled for February 2012.
DeLonte is an articulate young man who loves to debate. He plans to pursue a career in political science and government. DeLonte’s ultimate goal is to become Prime Minister of St. Kitts.
DeLonte feels it is important for young people to have a dream and to stay focused on that dream. He would like to continue to be a voice for his generation, empowering others to speak their minds and get involved.
Nominated by his teacher, Dorothy Markman-Caines, Mrs. Caines explains what she believes sets DeLonte apart from his peers. “DeLonte is dynamic; an outspoken team player kind of person. One of those students you can always count on to rally to the cause and motivate others to do the same.”
DeLonte is a recent graduate of Charles E. Mills Secondary School and plans to attend law school in the United States. He is currently enrolled at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College where he is studying sociology. He is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Civic Involvement.
