Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

This Week We Feature Young Professional Tichina A. Penn

Meet the aspiring registered nurse Tichina A. Penn, our Young Professional for this week. She wants to make a difference in the lives of not only those born in the Virgin Islands but those who are visiting and residing here from other countries. Photo: VINO
Penn was recently crowned Miss Jr. BVI. Photo: VINO/File
Penn was recently crowned Miss Jr. BVI. Photo: VINO/File
Penn in her work attire. Photo: Provided
Penn in her work attire. Photo: Provided
She hopes to also become bilingual allowing her to be a bilingual nurse practitioner and to contribute to her country by being able to provide health services to a growing multicultural community. Photo: Provided
She hopes to also become bilingual allowing her to be a bilingual nurse practitioner and to contribute to her country by being able to provide health services to a growing multicultural community. Photo: Provided
Penn, the 2014 Miss Jr. BVI, has as her platform, to promote social and physical activities among the young with different abilities. Photo: Provided
Penn, the 2014 Miss Jr. BVI, has as her platform, to promote social and physical activities among the young with different abilities. Photo: Provided
By Nikolai J. Earle

Meet the aspiring registered nurse Tichina A. Penn, our Young Professional for this week. She wants to make a difference in the lives of not only those born in the Virgin Islands but those who are visiting and residing here from other countries.

From an early age she was inspired to have a career in healthcare because of the suffering she saw her grandfather experienced. As a child she helped to take care of him and this fostered within her a desire to bring relief to those who are suffering.

Born in Tampa, Florida, USA, to Virgin Islander parents who hail from the Main Island of Tortola, Penn’s early childhood was an active one, she said. “[I did] swimming, rowing, sailing, scuba-diving, I was a very active child,” she said. She is also a certified instructor in some of those activities. "I am actually certified in sailing, swimming and scuba-diving,” she said.

“I went to school at the Enis Scatliffe Pre-Primary School and also the Althea Scatliffe Primary School. My favourite subjects were always English spelling and science. I always excelled in those but math was always my trouble. But I did overcome math,” she said.

Penn attended the then BVI High School “then I moved on to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and then transferred to the University of Albany and then I transferred to Valencia College where I am obtaining my Associate’s in science and going on to completing my RN (Registered Nurse practitioner).” Her studies towards the RN will be completed in another 2 to 3 years she said.

Busy at school in Florida, USA, she said that whenever she gets the opportunity to visit home she gives her time at the Peebles Hospital, working at the Dialysis Unit.

She said that as an aspiring nurse practitioner she would like to work either in the Dialysis Unit or in an Emergency Room (ER). She said that in order to specialize she will not only have to undergo more training but also she would need a lot of experience and this is what she is trying to rack up by working at the Dialysis Unit at the hospital.

She spoke of the experiences during her young life that motivated her to get into healthcare.

“In my early childhood I found out that my grandfather was dying of cancer and every morning I would go with my dad to give him his shots or he would send me to the store. I would help him to take care of himself. I was really close to my grandfather so that really pushed my drive for being a nurse, seeing my grandfather suffer,” said Penn.

“So as I was growing up I said I had to be in healthcare, either a doctor or a nurse to take care of not only the elderly but the young also,” she said.

She hopes to also become bilingual allowing her to be a bilingual nurse practitioner and to contribute to her country by being able to provide health services to a growing multicultural community.

To the young people trying to decide on their future, Penn had this bit of advice, “We are all given an equal opportunity to get a proper education. We should not be afraid to make mistakes because that is a part of learning. Always try to surround yourself with positive people who will uplift you. Use this opportunity to gain all the knowledge relevant to everyday work skills.”

Penn, the 2014 Miss Jr. BVI, has as her platform, to promote social and physical activities among the young with different abilities. She hopes to open a day centre for the elderly where they could come and socialise and play games in an effort to improve their wellness.

13 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Tichina A. Penn”

  • ccc (08/08/2014, 13:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nice young lady
  • weed (08/08/2014, 14:02) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another great pick VINO what a sweet human…all the best Ms. Penn
  • virgin gorda (08/08/2014, 16:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Kudus reach for the stars
  • -------------------- (08/08/2014, 19:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    i love that new pic what a sweet smile tichina
  • crucian family circle (08/08/2014, 22:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unequivocally beautiful and we love you!
  • the rock (09/08/2014, 04:38) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    don't know u but I see u got a big heart..thats kool, beautiful and smart also..all the best in the future!
  • Awesome (09/08/2014, 10:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    She is one awesome young lady!!! Cute! Petite! Fashionista! She just down right awesome!! Big up yo self China!!!
  • mother hen (09/08/2014, 11:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    well put together article and young lady
  • Village Girl (09/08/2014, 11:30) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    tichina keep concentrating on following your dreams,
  • Linda (09/08/2014, 19:13) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a beautiful story and thank you for sharing the memories. Keep striving and the bilingual gene already flows in your blood. Awaken it and perfect it. I love you very much.
  • 1 (10/08/2014, 01:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    so refreshing and other leader in the making GO TICHINA.
  • qc (10/08/2014, 08:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    may god bless you Tichina you are a gem
  • Cherry P (11/08/2014, 23:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Awesome! God's continued guidance, protection, and blessings.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.