This Week We Feature Young Professional Ray D. Victor
For some it may take years, sometimes well into the early adult life while for others from a very early stage as High School or College their career path pops up right before their eyes. Some see it early while others may have to go through a number of channels before they actually come to the realization that, “this is my beat for a life career”.
In the case of our young profession for this week Ray D. Victor, nature was at work and his eyes were wide opened, he saw it and held on to it.
Just a little over one year he returned from the United States of America where he read for his bachelor’s in Business Management at Warner University. Today he sits in the office of Trust Management Fund BVI Ltd. (TMF BVI Ltd.) in a supervisory position.
In his humble beginnings he attended the Joyce Samuels Primary from where he graduated as the salutatorian from where he went on to High School. It was at the High School level that his career path came flashing before his eyes and he reached out and grabbed at it.
His ultimate career goal is all in the field of basketball. And throughout the Virgin Islands Ray Victor is no stranger as he has been and continues to be one of the leading basketball players with international training and experience in the VI.
He is not one of the towering tall guys that find themselves in the game because of height and skills. He told us just how it all happened for him.
“One day my older brother took me on a basketball court and I was just there playing without any knowledge or experience against his friends who were older than me. Then I remember I had this one shot that I would always remember, I never played in my life and I hit the game winning basket and that struck me and stuck with me. After that game I started playing every single day.”
He said he grew up in Lower Estate where it is said that most of the leading basketball players of the VI had some rooting.
Mr Victor’s blessings kept following as he was recruited by Warner University to play basketball in the USA at the college level.
He explained that a Christian school from the US had visited the Territory and they saw him and took an interest in him. “They are the ones who saw me play live and said OK we would like him to come play for us. So that was one of my breakthroughs,” he recalled.
He said prior to then, himself and coach had been desperately trying to get him into a good college for a very long time but to no avail until destiny called. “I say even if I couldn’t or didn’t make it in basketball at least I got my education. So that’s why I stuck with it, I stuck with the system and took in my education. I did my school work… that’s one thing I made sure I did, my school work,” he emphasized.
He said matching the two, sports and education, was not such a hard thing as some others would make it out to be. “If I am to say this is that some people [are] just lazy. Staying focused is the key; following the right guidance is what you have to do. I was focused and I learnt the important lesson of managing my time,” said Victor.
Currently is he looking at avenues that would propel him further in the sport of basketball to the level that it becomes his career. “I am willing and ready to go through the pace that can possibly take me to the peak of playing in the NBA. I know that it’s not an easy thing to get to that level and I am prepared to get to that level by working for it.”
He said that should he not attain the level of the NBA but get the opportunity to play professionally at other levels he will stick with it. But if that is not to be, he is hoping to one day be a mentor to others who are interested in the game at a professional level.
Currently he is working his way into playing for an international team for the upcoming CBC basketball tournament that will be played here in the VI.
Our Young Professional Mr Ray D. Victor is a very daring person who is not afraid of challenges. He said that he likes to test out things that he is curious about one such is modeling. “It’s not something that I necessarily love but I just do it for the experience and to get the feeling that those who do it professionally get,” he said.
His most recent was hitting the run-way in Speedos at the fashion segment of the recently concluded first ever BVI Exquisite Boat show held at Scrub Island. Otherwise he had modeled for ‘Just B You’ Fashions.
In is advice to youths he impressed on the importance of a sound education and in so doing take time management seriously. “Time management is very important. Take your time at what you have to do. never say you don’t have enough time because you do have it. Value education because it is very key. If one thing doesn’t work today tomorrow something can and will but it’s all based on you having an education.” He said.
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36 Responses to “This Week We Feature Young Professional Ray D. Victor”
M.... W....n was born here to "island" parents, and people call him "island man". Mr. Victor was born here to "island" parents, but I am so surprised that nobody is calling him "island man"! Just keep your head up high, Ray, because the day you do anything offensive to some, you will be labelled as "island man". Keep up the good works and hope that you achieve your basketball dream.
So happy for my colleague!