Young professional, Sherica A. Thomas is a Sales Associate at Diamonds International located on Tortola Pier Park. Photo: Provided

Sherica A. Thomas is a multi-talented individual with an outgoing and compassionate personality. Photo: Provided

Sherica A. Thomas had initiated an outpouring of sympathy and prayers on social media when she shared her experience of meeting a mother and her cancer-stricken child who had visited the Virgin Islands in September 2016. Photo: Provided

Sherica sells high end jewelries, such as diamonds and watches, for Diamonds International located on Tortola Pier Park and one of her greatest rewards is being able to meet new people, both tourists and locals, and learning about their different cultures, adventures and even struggles and offering encouragement and comfort where the need arises.

Our Young Professional considers herself quite versatile and rightfully so with her mixed job experience, having worked at the BVI Electricity Corporation as a Clerical Officer 1, at FirstCaribbean International Bank as a Cashier, Scotiabank for 5 years as a Customer Service Representative and a Loan Officer Trainee and then at Jordan’s Trust Company as a Corporate Administrator.

While at Scotiabank, Sherica received the Best of the Best Award as a Customer Service Representative in 2012 and won herself a cruise for 2 for her hard work and dedication.

“Now, I am working at the biggest jewelry store in Tortola.”

Dreams & Ambitions

And while working at Diamonds International is quite a fulfilling experience, Sherica has dreams and ambitions of her own, one of which is to have a high-end clothing store in Virgin Gorda.

“I am working towards getting the fashion boutique business off the ground, but in life everything takes time.”

Sherica attended the BVI Seventh-day Adventist School on Tortola before transferring to the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) - Primary Division. She then enrolled at the Secondary Division of BFEC where she graduated with a Grade 1 Certificate in 1999.

Sherica holds seven CXC/CSEC subjects to her name, with 5 passes and 2 distinctions.  She had also started attending H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), majoring in Human Resource Management with a concentration in Business, but was unable to complete the course at the time. “I still have it in mind to continue to further my studies in those same areas.”

Multi-talented & courageous

Our Young Professional is multi-talented and is never shy to take on a challenge. She enjoys singing, dancing, and chaperoning individuals for different pageants held locally.

Sherica also held the title of Miss Gorgeous 2006 and won a carnival cruise for becoming the queen. In 2008 she decided to compete on the VG Festival Calypso show, alongside King Paido, Mighty Rocky, Ojinga and others

“I was a rookie to the game and became 2nd Runner Up. I was really surprised that I placed so high for the first time in that show. I am always a stage performer and never a shy person, when it comes to performing,” said Sherica, who shared that she started singing in church and at concerts, including at one where Joseph Niles (now deceased) was performing.

Sherica also boasts of being a singer with “the most famous scratch band, Leon and the Hot Shots, for over two years.” While with the band, Sherica was able to interact with many people across the world and gained quite a few fans. “People would email me and let me know that they are coming back to the island on vacation just to see me perform. What a thrilling feeling that is.”

Inspiration

Sherica said her sister Shevone A. Thomas-Findlay, a former Mrs BVI, is her inspiration, friend and advisor at all times.

“My two wonderful children keep me on the go and focussed. I have a 14 year old son and a 6 year old daughter that look up and depend on their strong-minded single mom that sees to it they are well taken care of in all aspects.”

Advice to youth

Sherica had much advice and encouragement to youth, including to not let anything shatter their dreams. “I always say in life the race is not for the swift but who endures to the end. There are times when you may be ready to give up but the positive mind-set is always the way to go.”

Our Young Professional also advises young people to “stay focussed in life and follow your dreams. The hero that you want to become is the hero that’s in you. Love yourself and stay true to yourself.”

Sherica concluded our interview with one of her favourite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl; but whatever you do you got to keep moving forward.”