This Week We Feature Young Professional Kareme I. Thomas
His admirable ambition to build the minds of individuals, as well as teach them expression through performing arts, influenced the choice of making this talented young man our featured Young Professional for this week.
Kareme I. Thomas is an outstanding young man with enough optimism to, as he says, "make positives out of negatives" which results from his desire to succeed and his strong spiritual and family base.
Kareme started out in the world of work from the early age of 17 at FirstCaribbean International Bank. His stint there was shortlived not because he couldn't do the job or hadn't the aptitude to go through the ranks but simply because he realised it was not a job he loved and he soon found openings in the field of work he likes best- Education.
From FirstCaribbean International Bank, Thomas went on to work in the Department of Education and then the Department of Youth Affairs and sports. Today he is a well favoured English Teacher at the Elmore Stoutt High School.
"I was at FirstCaribbean International Bank, which was my first job. I was only 17, however, I realised that banking was not a passion of mine so I left and went to school at HLSCC and slowly changed from general studies to education. I also teach every year at the annual government summer programme as a dance instructor," he said.
Our Young Professional was born on December 2, 1988 on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands to Miss Lucille Gaskin and Mr Jerry Thomas. Following his birth, he was relocated to the nearby island of Tortola, (British) Virgin Islands where he lived with his mother and five older siblings.
Not surprising, Kareme said the hero in his life is his mother. "She is very strong and hardworking."
School life
Our Young Professional began obtaining his wealth of knowledge at the Bethany Baptist Pre-school before enrolling at the Francis Lettsome Primary School and later the then BVI High School.
His impressive academic qualifications range from an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education, which he achieved at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), to a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with concentration in English from the University of the Virgin Islands.
With hopes of one day owning his very own school, Kareme I. Thomas dreams about shaping a curriculum which merges Academics with the Performing Arts. "I wish to name this fine institution after the lady that gave life to me and is my hero, my mother; therefore, the school will be called the Lucille Rosetta Gaskin Performing Arts School and Learning Academy".
With this dream set firmly as his ultimate target, Kareme is currently enrolled as an English Teacher at the Elmore Stout High School as of January 2015. "My love for teaching was inspired by a Primary School teacher by the name of Mrs Valerie Lettsome."
Kareme also expressed that he developed a major passion for this field by teaching dance for another role model teacher- Ms Elena Fahim- at the Willard Wheatley Primary School and later the Francis Lettsome Primary School. His teaching life has been dedicated under the quote "A Teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, touches a heart and shapes the future".
Dreams & Ambitions
This ambitious young man has his future laid out with plans A, B, C and even D as he is not ignorant to the fact that life does not necessarily go the way one sets it but there are always alternatives that make for a successful future. But plan A for the next 5-10 years is, "I see myself completing my Masters in Public Administration with a Minor in Dance. Then, hopefully teaching for a while and maybe doing my PhD online and getting myself together to build the school of my dreams one class at a time.
This is in addition to being married with a family of his own.
As it relates to his social life, this young role model enjoys a number of activities, which include singing, dancing, reading, writing, acting, spending time with loved ones, travelling and pageantry. Kareme shared that he was a participant of the 2006 Mr and Miss Fifth Form Pageant where he emerged victorious and walked away with several prizes.
"I also chaperoned and worked with many contestants and committees on many shows here and abroad."
When asked if there was another field of work that he could choose to do later in life, Kareme expressed that teaching is where he is supposed to and needs to be. "There is nothing else out there for me except for maybe travelling the world as an entertainer of some sort," he said.
Advice to youth
As a young professional, Kareme’s advice to the youth of today is centred in this very popular saying that goes, " It isn't where you're coming from, but where you're heading in life."
Kareme also stated that, "sometimes life really can get rough and tough, but with God's help and faith the size of a mustard seed one can make it far in life."
Speaking from his own life experience, Kareme said, "As I grew up in a single parent home with six other siblings beginnings were very rough, therefore, I would take my experience to encourage them."
His desire to succeed even when it feels like it doesn't make sense makes him a fitted role model for the youth of today.
"I have always tried to keep my feet on the straight and narrow path and although I'm not perfect, I strive to be the best at whatever I put my mind to."
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