Only just out of the then BVI High School, our Young Professional for this Week, Mr Angel R. Brown, had to make a decision to put his college ambitions on hold and has found himself in a different work setting than he had first envisaged. Nevertheless, he has no regrets as apart from being a breadwinner for his family he takes much gratification in being able to help others due to his profession. Photo: Provided

Mr Angel R. Brown is employed at Colonial Insurance (BVI) Ltd. as a Senior Insurance Administrator. Photo: Provided

Angel R. Brown has been involved in various sports such as softball, volleyball, track & field but mostly enjoys playing basketball. He played for Bayside Blazers in the 2015 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League. Photo: Provided

Mr Angel R. Brown is employed at Colonial Insurance (BVI) Ltd. as a Senior Insurance Administrator.

It is somewhat of a supervisory role but still deals with customers on a day to day basis. He is responsible for underwriting the Colonial Insurance (BVI) Ltd. Virgin Gorda Office as well as the agencies that sell on behalf of the company. Mr Brown is also the Claims Officer and BVI Coordinator for the Colonial Group IT Department.

Our Young Professional is very customer oriented as he services clients in many ways but always prefers face-to-face interaction. He considers himself an all-a-rounder as his duties extend beyond his job description.

Although he has been at Colonial Insurance (BVI) Ltd. for just over three years, he has been working in the insurance industry for the past 9 years. He worked at the BVI Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC), then at NAGICO Insurances BVI before joining Colonial Insurance (BVI) Ltd.

He was a Registry Assistant with BVIFSC before becoming a Senior Customer Service Representative at NAGICO Insurances.

A turn of events

Brown, however, wanted to become a Mechanical Engineer but had to put his tertiary level studies on hold to help support his family as his mom had been ill for some years prior to his high school graduation. He worked as a mechanic at Turnbull’s Garage and in water delivery every school break since Form 2 and for a year after graduation before landing an office job.

Angel, has no regrets in not being able to achieve his initial career goal of becoming a Mechanical Engineer and has opted to take what life has given him and pursue a successful career in the Insurance Industry. “Not everything in life will go as planned or desired so having the ability to adapt to make things work is key to progress and success”.

Although not being able to experience college life or going abroad for academic pursuits, Brown is not too disappointed as he said he would not have made a different choice if the opportunity presented itself again as he sees it as his duty being the eldest and only born son to sacrifice a part of his ambitions to help support his family, especially his mother who he adores and credits for instilling respect, moral values and discipline in him and his sibling.

“She has been everything to us. She taught us many things, including to be disciplined and respectful to others and those things have stuck with us. First thing she checked on our report cards was ‘Conduct’ and it had better say ‘Good or Excellent’ anything else was problems. My dad is the work-horse and by constantly seeing his dedication in pushing the family forward even through the very hard times we faced helped me to understand the work ethic I needed to have at my employment and when I got a family of my own. They both taught us to stick to together because family is all we have and to always conduct ourselves in a manner that would contribute to the community”.

And while he found himself in the world of work earlier than he expected by having to skip college; Brown has taken advantage of online courses to upgrade himself and continues to do so.

He has obtained the AINS designation in Insurance and is pursuing to complete his Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in the future. He is also pursuing a business degree which he also plans to complete thought online study.

Brown said having to put self aside and starting to earn and being responsible at an early age helped him to mature earlier than he otherwise might have if things were different. This is another positive outlook Brown has about the unexpected turn his life took.

Other ambitions

Just as any independent and ambitious thinker, Brown has dreams of becoming a business owner and chooses to see it as more of an opportunity to help others rather than about success for him. He has also set his sights on owning his own home and eventually having a family of his own.

Although not an avid church goer as before, Brown still has a strong spiritual side to him which he cherishes. He said it was through church also that he learnt many values, including leadership roles and having a desire to help others.

While an active member of his church some years ago, Brown was involved in mentoring youth and saw it as a great responsibility and an opportunity to instil some of the “old school values” that served him well.

“I am big on respect. I believe that as young people we all must learn to be highly respectful of others, especially the older folks. Attitude surely determines your altitude but I like to say ‘your distance’ because the wrong attitude can surely leave you going nowhere.”

Having such a big heart for others and ever willingness to give of his time for the uplifting of youth, Brown once volunteered in tutoring math to school children at times his peers. He said he is always willing to lend a helping hand where ever it is needed.

Multi-talented

Our Young Professional is quite multi-talented also and has been involved in poetry with the Callaloo Poets, plays percussion being a former member of the BVI High School bands and also does graphic drawings. He has been involved in various sports such as softball, volleyball, track and field but mostly enjoys playing basketball.

He played for Bayside Blazers in the 2015 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League.

Advice to youth

Brown’s parting words to youth are to “determine where you want to go, set short term and long term goals that will get you there and work hard towards achieving them. Be respectful of yourself, others and always surround yourself with mature persons that can guide you along the right path and help you mature. Don’t expect to be spoon fed or that you are entitled to anything in life; want something? Go get it with God in mind!”