This Week We Feature Young Professional Lori A. O’Neal
27-year-old Lori Amelia O’Neal, who was born on the island of Tortola but grew up on Virgin Gorda, is our Young Professional for this week.
The mother of one high spirited and intelligent six year old son is passionate about being successful in life and believes that education is the key – along with a positive attitude – to achieving such.
Her mother is Jennifer O’Neal from St Vincent and the Grenadines and her father is Nathaniel O’Neal who is known as “Tannie” from Virgin Gorda. “I am the only daughter of my parents, along with two brothers, Carey and Kirk O’Neal,” she said.
“My early childhood was one that was fun with lots of teachings from my parents and loved ones. I was and still am surrounding by nothing but love, laughter, adventure and travels,” she said.
Lori A. O’Neal attended the Little Rainbow pre-school when she was a toddler then attended Bregado Flax Educational Institute – Primary Division. “My academics were at a standard of A’s and B’s, which enabled her to become an Honour Student,” said our Young Professional.
“My favourite subjects were Maths and Social Studies. Outside of academics, I played the piano and steel pan, which I enjoyed,” she said.
She went on to attend the Bregado Flax Educational Institute – Secondary Division, where she studied the field of Arts and graduated with a grade one certificate with honours in 2004.
“Not stopping there, I continued my education achieving degrees in Air Traffic Control, Meteorology, Early Childhood Education and now Business,” she said.
“Self-motivation, ambition and determination in both myself and my parents have caused me to take the direction I have set out [on] in life. My parents, the private owners of a taxi fleet and restaurant, sparked my interest in becoming a business owner, hence accomplished a degree in business administration and now business management,” she said.
Emphasising the importance of self-motivation, she said, “I believed in myself. Anything I set my mind to do, I was able to achieve. In years to come, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur. As I was always told by mom, "Work for what you want in life.”
For our Young Professional, business is where the heart is; so she considers being employed at Nagico Insurances in Virgin Gorda as a Medical Claims Officer/Customer Service Representative a great opportunity to learn about business.
“What I enjoy most about my job is meeting new and different personalities, in addition to advancing my knowledge on the medical aspect of insurance,” she said. In January 2014, she was awarded “Employee of the Quarter”.
“I am also a part of The Valley Sound Lions Club. This organisation is filled with most of what I enjoy best; serving my community, socialising and travelling," she said.
Our Young Professional’s advice to young people is that education with common sense and a positive attitude are key to great success. “Go after your dreams and never give up. If you fail at first, keep trying until you have accomplished your dream. Don’t follow the crowd… be a leader. Crime won’t get you anywhere but the slums,” she advised.
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