Okeera Jack Success Story - Division of Education, Research and Technology

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SUCCESS STORY

Okeera Jack

Technical Field Assistant

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)in Agriculture

Growing up, I always told myself, “A wise man learns from other people’s mistakes” that way, he won’t make the same mistake to learn from himself. That said, living in the village of Les Coteaux have both failures and success, and I decided I would be successful after seeing failures in my village.

My name is Okeera Jack, and my educational journey began at a tender age at Coppins Nursery School, then at Scarborough Methodist Primary School and on to St. Nicholas Private Primary for one (1) year, where I wrote the S.E.A examination. I went on to pass for my first choice, Bishops High School. After attaining good results from completing C.X.C examinations, I switched to Signal Hill Secondary for A levels.

From a young age, I always wanted to go with my grandfather to the garden, but he never allowed it because he always thought I would keep him from doing his work. However, on his return home, I would always rush outside to dig in his bag to admire how big his yam, dasheen and cassava were after harvesting. My love for agriculture began when I saw my grandfather having such quality produce and doing what he loved every morning: going to the garden religiously. While at Bishop’s, I always said to my peers, “I don’t want no office wuk.” This saying fuelled my love for Agriculture, and I decided to take this as a career path and looked into all its streams. Things didn’t go as planned academically during my tenure at Signal Hill Secondary or “Compre” as we know it. I decided not to let this minor hiccup stop me from chasing my dreams. My father and I decided that we will persereve. On investigating how to study Agricultural Science further, we came across the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry (ECIAF) campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in Trinidad. We decided that I would go and pursue the Diploma in Agricultural Science. On seeing the cost of tuition and other expenses, I turned to my father and asked, “You have all that money?” he then said that it was Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) funded and I must keep my grades up, but the other expenses like groceries, rent etc. we will make it through by the grace of God.

To execute my plan to attend university in September, I started working at the NP service station to save as much as possible for the university. One evening while walking in the village after work, I saw Miss Petronella Neptune; she always ensured that I was on the right path by enquiring about my academic performance.

I informed her of my decision to attend the UTT ECIAF campus in Trinidad and that I was working and saving hard for this. Immediately she told me about the Department of Advanced Training and Advisory Services (DATAS) and the services they offer to students studying. She also clarified that to get this funding, my grades must meet the required marks. This made me decide to work harder at university as this funding will provide immense assistance to my father’s pocket. I journeyed into the office and got the relevant information and documents to begin the process as quickly as possible. Ms Neptune, “Petty”, as we would call her in the village, would always ask me, “You dropped in the things yet?” even though at times I may find myself taking long to drop them off, she would make it her duty to relay the relevant information or drop in the documents on my behalf.

Fast forward to university, the semester concluded my grades were within range. As a result, the bursary award was disbursed to me, which was used to pay my rent for the next semester. DATAS award made it possible for me to go through my two years Diploma program by covering the rent of the campus. In the end, I had to keep up my end of the contract by working two (2) years before being able to leave the country. However, I deferred it because I went on to do my B.Sc. in the same field (Agriculture) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine, Trinidad which took three years.

Upon completing the B. Sc. degree programme in 2019, I decided to apply for jobs both in and out of my field of study. Fortunately for me, while reading the newspapers in January 2020, the Division of Agriculture sent out an advertisement seeking Technical Field Assistance. I applied without hesitation as this fell right up my alley. After sending my application with all the relevant documents, then awaited a call from the Division, Covid 19 came. I remember vividly saying, “Well, look how I won’t get a job; how unlucky could I be right after finishing school a pandemic comes.” Still holding the faith, in September 2020, I received a phone call that changed all doubt I had. The Division called and asked me to be interviewed for the position. A couple of days later, I got another phone call telling me that I was successful and would begin on October 01^st as a Technical Field Assistant with the division.

This year makes it three years I have been employed with the Division in which I can bring my technical skills to both crop and livestock farmers to improve their farms and to improve Tobago’s Agriculture by extension.

The field of Agriculture has an extensive range of professions, from Extension Officers, Vet, Agronomists, and Soil Scientists, and the list goes on. One bit of advice I would like to impart to anyone getting into this field is that it must be a natural union between oneself and agriculture. You must first love agriculture. You can’t go into agriculture and then love it. Agriculture is often the “black sheep” of all the sciences, but it is the most important one, in my opinion, because if you have no food which nourishes the body, you cannot dream of doing the other sciences.

In conclusion, I must thank God for granting me the strength and courage for my achievements and my father, Mr Collin Jack, for being the central pillar of guidance through this journey. Of course, nothing can be done without money. To Miss Petronella Neptune, whom I wish was still with us, to let her know how thankful I am for informing me about DATAS; may she rest in peace. Heartfelt thanks to the DATAS body for this great initiative that aids students and parents who are not financially fortunate to fulfil their dreams. I hope that more students will challenge themselves and take up this offer.

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