This Week We Feature Young Professional Natalie N. Penn
Tourism Education Coordinator in the BVI Tourist Board, Natalie N. Penn is being recognised this week as our Young Professional as she makes her contribution to the education of youth on the importance of the hospitality sector to the Virgin Islands’ economy.
She has been working in this position for the last seven years. “My portfolio entails educating our youth age 10 to 17 about the importance of tourism and the role that they can play within our tourism industry,” she said.
Natalie was born on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Moving to the VI when she was younger, she attended Simmonds Preschool, Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School and the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.
Coming up in primary school, her favourite subjects were Social Studies and History. Something about being involved in our community has always played an integral role for me as a person growing up and I think this is one of the reasons why I like to take part in a lot of community outreaches,” she said.
Community minded
Penn is a part of the Follow the Movement body and also a part of the Prince and Princess Committee and from time to time would assist the Tourist Board with any clean up that they may have around the country.
“I also encourage and invite the students from the secondary schools and the primary schools to come out so that they could get their extra hours of community service required for them to graduate,” she said.
After she completed her time at the BVI High School, she went on to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College then to the Florida International University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology minoring in Tourism and Hospitality and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management with Walden University.
Our Young Professional said that initially she wanted to become a guidance counselor and hence she pursued her undergraduate degree in Psychology. “Being that I am from an island that is tourism oriented, I decided to do a minor in Tourism and Hospitality just as a backup,” she said.
“When I came home from school the first job that I got was at the Tourist Board and I never left,” she said.
Our Young Professional noted that she started out in Marketing at the Board. “Eventually I grew into the position that I have now as the Tourism Education Coordinator. To me the role has increased so much...the portfolio was at a standstill for a long time and then I picked it up and had to put a lot of things in motion to get it going and build back rapport with persons in the education sector. So while the role has intensified somewhat I enjoy the challenge and I love doing what I do,” she said.
Penn added that she incorporated her love for children with the tourism education portfolio that she was given on the job and she said it has been going well since then.
According to our Young Professional, her portfolio to the Tourist Board requires her to be well-versed and knowledgeable with regard to the education syllabus and curriculum put forward by the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn. “I also have a very good rapport with the principals of all the secondary and primary schools in the entire territory. I also send out letters telling all of the principals what the BVI Tourist Board does and how we can facilitate them in any way possible with presentations, field trips, work experience, various competitions that we host here at the BVI Tourist Board,” she said.
Life’s twist
In the midst of her undergraduate studies, Penn suffered what she described as a setback - becoming an expectant mother. “Having [my son] made me realise that I have to move forward and push to complete my degree to set a better life for him and even as an example for him so he could have someone to look up to. Having him helped me to be more responsible and mature and helped me to grow as an individual,” she said.
Noting that she will complete her Master’s in June 2017, she said that while it is indeed a challenge to juggle so many responsibilities, proper balance is the key and this is what she has been able to do.
She said her biggest goal now is to become a Human Resources Director, be it in the public or private sector.
Advice to youth
“What I would say to our young people is that anything you want to accomplish it is ok to accomplish it. Everybody deserves a chance and if you put your mind to something it can be done. Don’t ever think for a second that whatever you want to accomplish is not doable...anything is doable,” she said.
18 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Natalie N. Penn”
Keep up the excellent work Miss Penn.
You were born a Star, keep shining
It is so good to see you giving back to the community even at such a young age. Just to read this article makes me feel rewarded. God bless you!