This Week We Feature Young Professional Lyndon L. Andrews
This week’s Young Professional is an advocate for "dreaming big". His laugh is labelled as contagious by his peers. His hunger and vigour for academic success have moulded him into the assertive individual that he is today. He will also soon be returning to the territory certified at the highest level of Dentistry.
Mr Lyndon Lenox Andrews, the only child of his mother Mrs Shirley Andrews- his dad being Mr Leon Andrews, the private owners of the L&S Garage, Taxi Service and Car Rentals, seems to have the knack for business just like his parents and even studied Business in his early years.
He was born in Tortola but grew up in Virgin Gorda with his grandparents in the Valley.
When asked who his hero was and why, Lyndon chose his dad. As he puts it, his dad migrated from St Vincent and the Grenadines to the Virgin Islands as a mechanic and worked his way up the business ladder to having his own family business. "His ambition and his will power and determination to be the man he is today, to have what we have, pushed me to always dream big," Lyndon said.
Our Young Professional attended the Bregado Flax Primary School where he was a balanced student and excelled in athletics. He described himself as very athletic, having represented the Virgin Islands at local and international levels. His track career began at age 7 and ended at age 16. During recollection, he emphasised that going away for track meets was one of his favourite memories growing up.
Apart from track, Lyndon was also involved in Steel Pan playing and Moco Jumbie (Stilt walking). He mentioned that his dad wasn't too fond of the stilts but it was something that Lyndon enjoyed and engaged in at a certain phase in his life. Apart from those activities, Lyndon was also religiously inclined and ranked as an Acolyte at the St Mary's Episcopal Church for most of his high school life.
Lyndon then furthered his studies in the United States where he switched fields- going from Business to Science- resulting in him having to give up track in order to adjust to the academic change.
Lyndon's motivation to excel academically spurred from his Primary School dream to one day be Valedictorian, which he achieved in 2004 when he graduated from high school. He was granted a government scholarship which allowed him to get a transfer to Baylor University in Texas where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2009.
As a child, Lyndon had a traumatic accident which required him to wear braces to correct a dental issue. This experience fuelled his interest in the field of Dentistry, which he subsequently pursued. Lyndon said "Dentistry is beautiful and life changing" and he reminisced on the moment when he first took his braces off and the confidence he felt which caused him to smile, as he said, "from ear to ear all the time".
Having completed a Bachelor's Degree in Dentistry, Lyndon applied to dental school but didn't get in, which motivated him to try harder. He then did a Dental Post Baccalaureate Programme in California, which boosted his application the second time around and allowed him to get into dental school more prepared than his first attempt.
Our Young Professional expressed that during his studies there were persons who tried to discourage him by saying things like "That's a long field", "Are you sure you're ready for that?", "Your grades fell here", but as Lyndon puts it, "It's not all about grades, it's about personality too and willpower."
Lyndon presently resides at the Case Western Reserve University of Dental Medicine pursuing a Degree in Dr of Dental Medicine which concludes in 2016. This will be followed by a Residency in General Practice after which he will be returning to the VI to make his contribution to the land of his birth.
When asked where he sees himself in the next 5-10 years, Lyndon expressed that he will be serving his community, both British and US Virgin Islands, with hopes of owning his own private practice where he can serve persons of all ages in need of dental assistance.
Additionally he said, “Also for where I see myself in ten years- doing mission trips. In 2008 I did a drug and alcohol mission trip to Upstate New York and in 2010 I did a dental and medical mission trip in a small village named Tochimizolco in Mexico. As part of the Leo's Club Virgin Gorda Baylor organisation- Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, I did community service in Waco in Texas, Dental School Organisation- (Student National Dental Association) SNDA where I am the Treasurer- We are going to Jamaica this summer 2015 God willing.”
In his advice to youth, Lyndon said "Stay in school and dream big". This is basically the way he went about his life- by dreaming big. He also left a quote which he holds dear to him. It says "Don't let someone's compliments go to your head and don't let someone's criticism go to your heart".
He also advised youth to dream big while not forgetting to pray! “Always try and look on the brighter side of things even when adversity comes. This is something hard to do, even for me today, but it gets me to reflect more on life and the bigger picture.”
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