Late Summer Blog

Hi everyone,

So we are off to a fine start. Orientation went smoothly last week for the Kingston and Montego Bay groups. Mandeville awaits their day in the sun as construction wraps up for their grand opening.

I want to thank the teachers: Ms. Pate, Ms. Knowles-Clark, Mr. Karenga, Mr. May, Ms. McLean, Ms. Cole for being so prepared for the start of classes.

For the writers of the manuals, Ms. Steele and Ms. Pate-what a courageous undertaking and I believe one that will help many Jamaican students for some time. Bravo!

To the staff: Ms. Samuels, Ms. Myles, Mr. McKenzie, Ms. McGlashin for the late nights spent to put all the manuals together-again, staff, we need our day in the sun! What say we to a day at the beach! It's on....

As for me, I am currently picking up books in Utah, arranging a Film course for interested teenagers and visiting campuses.

I spent some time on the campus of Brigham Young University. This school is a mecca for Division I sports: Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Rugby, Basketball, Swimming and Diving, Lacrosse and American Football (though one of their weaker sports)...

Their claim to fame is Business, Mathematics and Engineering. The atmosphere is nice, hilly and prone to winter sports such as snowboarding.

I highly recommend this school for our US residents and citizens as International students will not be afforded scholarships to study, though the annual cost is quite affordable at $28,000 (not a bad deal!)

What did I think of the Mormons? It is obviously the religion of the day in Utah, but not overbearingly so. The state is predominantly white but one is not greeted hostilely. Even in small remote towns where I sojourned alone in my rental, I was greeted quite warmly and met folks happenstance who knew my Jamaican students. The three, Joelle Comrie, Nicholas Franklin and Melissa Terry attended the private boarding school of Wasatch Academy. Rumour has it that in honor of my three Jamaicans who graduated, all parents picking up their children on the last day of school played a Bob Marley tune. The symbolic act was for the joy they brought to the school and their children.

Searing heat, this state is some 5000 feet up and the elevation and desert heat is no joke! One will definitely need a car to get around, sites are far and wide apart. But crime is low, many activities to do and hey, home to the Utah Jazz!

Check out our new logo done by our New York Techie, Jevan Raymond.

WealthQuest for Teens has a wonderful project going on for those seeking extracurricular activities to bolster their academic resumes. Google the name and look at their enterprising activities for teens who wish to help those afflicted by cancer. Get to it!

See you soon guys! Read and study...it will pay off in the long run.