Last summer, Connillia Williams took a giant step towards her dream of becoming a pediatrician and helping improve health care in Virgin Gorda, especially for children.  In late August, she traveled to Boston for an interview with Dr. Joan Reede, Dean for Diversity and Community Partnerships at Harvard Medical School.

Earlier this summer, Dr. Reede organised a conference at Harvard for Caribbean Ministers of Health who are committed to youth development for medicine in the region.

Connillia was also invited to attend Project Success graduation, a summer internship program with Harvard-affiliated laboratories and hospitals.  Founded by Dr. Reede in 1993, Project Success prepares multicultural high school and college students who live in the Boston area and aspire to go to Harvard Medical School.

The regal crimson and gold colors, high-backed leather chairs, the tall buildings and historic symbols of Harvard’s prestigious university were impressive.  At first Connillia was a little nervous with so many new people, but they warmly welcomed her.

She was inspired by these youth ages 16-20 from Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria and ten other countries who presented their research on today’s top diseases including leukaemia, melanoma, ovarian cancer, Alzheimers, ATP and HIV/AIDS.

“We’re practicing for our Nobel Prize speech,” said one student.

“The key to a better future is how we train the next generation and nurture the scientists of tomorrow,” said Dr. Reede at graduation.

She acknowledged the mentors from each hospital and laboratory, “Someone who took the time to help, to care about these young people.”  She presented students with certificates and the book, Against All Odds, the Legacy of Students of African Descent at Harvard Medical School.

Connillia was honored to receive this book along with a commemorative mug from Dr. Reede.  A Project Success graduate gave her a tour of Boston’s Children Hospital where she saw first hand the impact pediatricians have on children’s lives.

It was fun shopping at the famous Harvard Coop for gifts for her sponsors, family, friends and VGYLI Fellows.  That night, Connillia celebrated her accomplishments – and her 18th birthday – at Harvard’s restaurant.  She loved Boston at night with all the lights and beautiful buildings.

It was truly a life-changing day! Connillia is a founding member of the Virgin Gorda Youth Leadership Initiative.  This summer each of the VGYLI Fellows has been implementing the action plans they developed last spring – meeting their mentors, getting jobs in their careers, giving back by helping with their church camp and preparing for college in the U.S.   

Connillia’s journey has taken tremendous focus, hard work and many sacrifices.  For the last year, she’s had to learn how to manage her time, her schoolwork, her family responsibilities and her commitments with VGYLI. She also had to get her UK passport so she could travel to the U.S.

She’s worked towards finding a mentor.  At her high school graduation, she had pictures taken with Dr. Orlando Smith, the first BVI physician and Dr. Stacy Rhymer, the first woman doctor in Virgin Gorda who agreed to serve as Connillia’s mentor.  However, when she relocated to the Bahamas, she met with Miss Scattlife, the BVI’s Chief Nursing Officer. It took nearly a year to arrange the interview with Dr. Reede at Harvard, with help from Stone Soup Leadership Institute’s board member, Judith Kurland who is featured in the book, Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Everyday Heroes.

Connillia is now a second year student at H.Lavity Stoutt Community College where she’s committed to getting A’s, especially in biology and chemistry.  She’s been promised that if she does well, she will receive scholarships to Harvard Medical School.

She’s also filling out applications for Gordon College near Boston where she hopes to attend next fall. 

Connillia wonders if others from BVI and Virgin Gorda attended Harvard.  She knows that if you go to Harvard, you are very serious about your dreams.   Be sure to look for the Harvard decal on Connillia’s school bag!

VGYLI Fellows will meet on Saturday, September 20 to share their summer progress and plan the fall program. We will plan an event in October where Connillia will inspire youth to work hard to realize their dreams too.

BVI government leaders, sponsors and Virgin Gorda youth and their families are invited to attend.

VGYLI is very grateful to all our sponsors: Ministry of Education & Culture and jetBlue – with special thanks to Connillia’s host family, Dr. Robert and Germaine Fritz who organized a visit to Beverly Hospital where he is an eye-ear-nose specialist. The Stone Soup Leadership Institute provides technical assistance and training to VGYLI.   The community shares their time, talents and resources. 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment