It's the possibility that keeps me going....

Five more stories of the Remarkable Teens ....

Shazill Bergan

Courage to Overcome:  Spirit of Hope

Shazill’s is a story of resiliency and inner strength.  Shazill was a lonely child who often dreamed of a kinder life when as an eight year old second grade student at Sandy Point Primary School the unthinkable happened. Walking to the bus after school one afternoon, Shazill was grabbed by a man she recognized from the community.  He forced her into his house where he brutally raped her before finally letting her leave. Scared and physically in pain, Shazill found her way back to her mother.  Shazill was taken to the hospital for tests which confirmed the attack and soon after her assailant was arrested.  Shazill was then placed in foster care and sent to live at the Children’s Home for her own protection pending the trial of the man who had raped her.  Shazill explains that her mother visited her daily which she was her saving grace during these troubled times.  Unfortunately, the man who raped her was never brought to trial.  After three years, Shazill’s mother took Shazill back home to live.  Shazill left the Children’s Home with mixed emotions, sorry to leave the many friends she had made there, but happy to be returning home. 

The most inspiring part of Shazill’s story is the radiance of her optimism, the strength and dignity that she has displayed throughout her long ordeal.  Shazill has never received the justice that would have meant so much to her healing, and she is still uncomfortable when she sees her assailant around the community, but she has found the inner strength to overcome the shame and horror of that day by helping others and staying positive.

While a student at Verchilds, Shazill was an involved athlete and school leader who served as a role model and inspiration to classmates. Captain of both the school’s cricket and basketball teams and Vice-Captain of the futbol team, Shazill also participated in track and field events including shot put, javelin and discus and played both netball and volleyball on the school teams.  Shazill’s exemplary leadership skills led to her being chosen to represent Verchilds at the regional Youth Leadership Conference.  

Shazill is also a teenage mother with a one year old son, Kelvin. Kelvin’s father is an active part of their life and Shazill says that they plan to marry one day soon.  Shazill names her brother Amos Francis as her role model.  She looks up to Amos because he also had to overcome the hardship and pain of being bullied in the community because of the family’s poverty. Shazill says that his perseverance and determination proved everyone wrong when he finished high school and college and found a successful career as a teacher. Shazill’s shares her philosophy. “Life is filled with obstacles that can be overcome if you keep a positive attitude.  Life is what you make it.  You never really know who you are until you have to face life’s challenges,”

Shazill is currently attending Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College where she is studying Culinary Arts.  Once she completes this area of study, she plans to enroll in the Nursing program.  Shazill’s life goal is to become a nurse.  “I get strength from helping others,” she says.  “It’s what I hope to do for the rest of my life.”  Shazill is an 18 year old graduate of Verchilds High School.  She receives the Spirit of Hope award in the category of Courage to Overcome.

Shaquille Fredericks

Community Service

For the past six years, Shaquille has volunteered at the Basseterre Fire Station for an average of 24 hours a week. He logs over 1,200 hours of community service each year even while holding down a full time job. Shaquille is also a member of the Fire Department cricket team and a former military cadet. While a fourth form student, Shaquille found that his family needed him.  To do his part to help with finances, Shaquille quit school and got a full time job. In spite of this setback, Shaquille never waivered in his loyalty to fire and rescue services and continued to serve as an auxiliary officer. 

Shaquille’s father is a long time firefighter.  When Shaquille was young, he allowed him to come along to a few fires to watch the men work.  Recognizing the excitement in Shaquille as he watched the firefighters do their job, Shaquille’s father encouraged him to volunteer for the department.  Shaquille was just 12 years old at the time, and he has been volunteering ever since.

When Shaquille was young he remembers chasing fire engines with his brother to see where they were headed and often being able to spot a fire even before he heard the sirens. 

Shaquille believes that to succeed you need to find something you love, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.  Shaquille feels fortunate that he discovered his passion at such a young age.  “Some people spend their whole lives never knowing what it is they really want to do, or doing something they don’t like to just earn a living,” he says. “I’ve known that I want to be a firefighter since the time I was 12, and that is a dream that will never change.”  Shaquille hopes to be hired by the fire department sometime next year when the hiring freeze eases up.

Shaquille Fredericks is 19 years old and works in security as a full time employee of the Port Authority. Shaquille possesses impressive dedication to serving the community.  He is hard working and committed; passionate about helping people.   Shaquille receives the Remarkable Teen award for his exceptional commitment to Community Service.

Desi Brown

Youth Activism

An exemplary student, Desi dreams of becoming an entertainment attorney one day.  But it is not in the pursuit of her career as an attorney that Desi is singly focused, but to the betterment of all youth, spreading her talents and voice as far as she can to persuade other young people to become engaged in their lives, organizing for social change through meaningful youth involvement, and leading her community to a better tomorrow. 

Desi contributes close to 40 hours a month to extra curricular activities in various forms as a member of SKYNPA and co-founder of Young Intellects and the Teen Spotlight Awards – a program that recognizes not just the academic accomplishments of youth, but extra curricular involvement too; time spent in positive behavior that too often goes unnoticed and unappreciated.   Desi also finds time for her first passion of 11 years, dance.  She is a part of the CFBC dance ensemble LEAP, and a member of the Nubian Arts production company.  She also performs at Island Expressions, a popular local entertainment venue. Through LEAP, Desi uses her talents in dance to help prepare dancers of all ages to participate in pageants and other competitions.

Some people try to persuade others to change their behavior directly by modeling the results of making positive choices; Desi is just such an individual.  Desi believes that “success is built on being committed 24/7, always moving forward and knowing where you want to go.”  But it was not always so.  Bullied throughout primary school and first form by classmates, Desi was a withdrawn and unhappy student. In an effort to stand up for herself, she became a bully too, doing to others that which was done to her. Fighting to protect what was left of her dignity and self esteem, Desi lashed out in anger.  She was suspended from school for fighting more than once.

It was then that Desi knew she must let go of her painful past and take control of her life in a positive way before she lost the chance to build a promising future.  Realizing “it’s only you who can create that better feeling,” Desi turned the experience of being bullied from a weakness into strength. She remembered the feelings of being both victim and victimizer and found the courage to admit where she’d been wrong.  “I chose to follow through on what in my heart and mind I knew was right,” she says.  Since that time, Desi has worked tirelessly to create new opportunities as a youth activist and a voice for change in her generation.

Desi Brown is a 17 year old student at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, with plans to attend law school overseas. She is being honored as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Youth Activism.

Leahcim Phipps

Culinary Arts

At the age of nine, Leahcim was diagnosed with dyslexia.  Faced with the academic challenges of this learning disability, Leahcim had to work hard with tutors to discover techniques and reading skills to help him learn in spite of this impairment.

Leahcim comes from a family who loves the kitchen.  His grandfather was a baker, his grandmother an accomplished caterer, his uncles, aunts and father passionate about food and cooking.  Leahcim shares their passion and has participated in several cooking competitions.  Most recently, Leahcim and his teammates from ICCS were recognized for the delicious meal of Mahi Mahi and mashed potatoes they prepared for the Department of Youth’s 2010 Chef’s Competition.   In 2010, Leahcim went on a job attachment to the Beach House restaurant where he received much encouragement from the Chef and other kitchen staff.  After volunteering at the restaurant, he was offered a full time summer job as an appetizer chef in 2011.  Leahcim continues to work at the Beach House Wednesday after school and on Saturday helping to prepare such culinary delights as Lobster Pho Soup, Cerviche of Snapper and the island renowned Beach House Salad.

Leahcim is also a sports enthusiast and has been playing cricket since he was eight.  He is currently Captain of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College cricket team.  Most recently, Leahcim traveled to Guyana as part of the Leeward Islands cricket team.

Describing his love of cooking Leahcim explains.  “Cooking is a way for me to be creative.  I see it as art, a place where I am able to express myself through food.  When I look at ingredients on their own, they don’t really mean anything.  Then I put them together in a creative way and I find I can make something out of nothing; something that brings a smile to a person’s face. I love that feeling.”

Nominated by Lisa Pistana, former principal of ICCS, Ms. Pistana is asked what she thinks sets Leahcim apart from his peers.  “It is his passion for cooking,” she says.  “It is Leahcim’s fortitude and excitement that motivates him to excel.”

Leahcim plans to attend the Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts School in Miami before returning to St. Kitts to open his own restaurant.

Leahcim Phipps is a 17 year old student at Immaculate Conception Catholic School.  He is being recognized as a Remarkable Teen in the category of Culinary Arts

Glenston Patrick

Commitment to Personal Excellence

Glenston is a persistent young man.  Even while facing academic setbacks, he has remained focused and committed to doing his best at every task. Cricket, music, learning a trade, Glenston has stayed involved, creating many pathways for personal success.  Glenston is a resilient young man who strives for excellence.  He understands the value of flexibility and humor in facing life’s challenges

Glenston has been playing cricket since he was six years old, representing St. Kitts and Nevis at National and International competitions as a member of the National Cricket Team and a member of the St. Kitts Cricket Club.  He was also Captain of his high school cricket team.  In 2008 and 2010, Glenston received the Man of the Match Trophy.

Glenston is an active participant in the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force Band as well, playing at Independence Day celebrations and Christmas Galas.

Glenston is an accomplished musician playing both the saxophone and clarinet, but it is the saxophone that he most loves.  “Music is my passion,” he says. “Making music is a way for me to express my feelings.  It also brings joy to others.”

Glenston has held several jobs throughout his young life, including as a security camera repairman, air conditioning and refrigeration repairman, a server and a bartender.

Glenston feels it is important to work hard, to act with discipline and focus and to stay on top of things.  “Not everyone has to go to college to achieve their goals,” he says.  “It’s finding that thing you do best, and then doing whatever it takes to succeed.”

Glenston is an 18 year old student at AVEC, the Advanced Vocational Education Center. He receives the Remarkable Teen award in the category of Commitment to Personal Excellence.