January's Caribbean Excellence Ambassador: Rahul Sharma

Every month, we at EmpowerU would like to highlight one of many amazing Caribbean students displaying excellence in the region or abroad. This month we are highlighting Sint Maarten’s very own Rahul Sharma.

To learn more about Rahul Sharma and his amazing accomplishments, check out our interview with him below.

Name: Rahul Sharma

Island: Sint Maarten

Bio: I was born and raised on St. Maarten to an Indian family. Thus, I can say that I am multicultural. Being brought up on an island in the Caribbean by a family that continuously celebrates the Indian traditions and practices many of the norms, I can definitely say that I was able to experience the best of both worlds. During my free time, I like to paint, draw, take pictures, edit them, or just find something creative to do that would help express my mood or display my aesthetics.

Personal Mission:

Growing up I constantly heard politicians and teachers saying "The Youth is the Future." Back then I did not really look into that phrase or felt some way when I heard it. As time passed by, I realized how true and powerful that statement is. With that in mind, my personal mission is to help inspire my fellow peers and future generations. I hope to break social constructs and generational ideologies. In addition, we all go through different obstacles in life, so I want to spread awareness on the fact that we are not alone and that it is okay to feel low at times, especially for young men who are taught to always be strong. I cannot say that I am a complete expert in these topics but as I am continuously learning. I hope to spread the knowledge that I gain from my experiences.

Career Field:

Currently, I am in my second year of the International Bachelors in Communication and Media study at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. The reason for choosing this study is because I have always been creative, inquisitive, and analytical. My curiosity for human nature and behavior as well as my interest in the media field has led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in this study.

What inspires you:

Two things that definitely inspire me are results and progress. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I see that the work that I produce had some effect.

Who has been your role model and why:

I have had many role models over the years but my main role model would definitely be my mom. She has always worked hard for what she wants in life. My mom is independent and always finds a way to achieve her goals. A quote by Tim Ferriss that she once sent me which helps me every day is "Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think." At the time, I was going through a difficult situation. In this case, competition refers to the obstacles we may face in life.

Accomplishments:

Some of my accomplishments are that I successfully completed the International Baccalaureate program at the St. Dominic High School. In addition, during my first year at University, I obtained all 60 credits meaning that I passed all my courses. Recently, I got the opportunity to meet with officials of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, to speak about my experience of moving from St. Maarten to The Netherlands. During this meeting, I shared my story with the Ministers of Education from Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, and The Netherlands. Towards the end of my presentation, I gave the ministers some recommendations for students who are planning to move away from home to go to college. I listed this as one of my accomplishments because I got the chance to accomplish some of my goals, where I get to help future generations and my fellow peers. In addition, during this presentation, I got to speak about mental health issues that are often overlooked.

What obstacles have you faced as you worked to accomplish your goals? How did you overcome them?

One of the main obstacles that I have faced as I worked towards accomplishing my goals is that I took criticism too deeply. Initially, I would often listen to others’ opinions and be greatly affected by them. I soon understood that individuals all have their own opinions and they aren't always going to be positive. Also, if individuals are to see change being brought about, they would be forced to step out of their comfort zone. This can be difficult for some, thus they might be too critical. I understood that this is human nature and that it should not deter me from my goals. I try to understand and respect different points of views but I don't allow them to negatively affect me.

Next steps:

This year I hope to create more art from motivational videos to paintings. I want to use my art to inspire people and share my thoughts. In addition, soon I will have to do my internship for school. I hope to get a good internship, where I get the opportunity to expand and apply my knowledge.

What do you see for the future of Sint Maarten:

Considering the efforts that our generation is making, I do see a bright future for the Caribbean. There are many young and talented individuals pursuing their dreams in the arts and also many young entrepreneurs setting goals for themselves and their future. By continuously doing this, we are going to put our islands on the map. We should definitely pay attention to our generation and the generations to come. We should encourage them to reach for their goals and help them accomplish them.

Advice for others:

Never doubt yourself. You can get what you want in life once you put your mind to it and work towards it. Always remember, you got this!

Know someone you believe is doing amazing things and deserves to be highlighted (it can even be YOU), fill out our survey Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ empoweru.carib and check out our website @empoweru.online