October's Caribbean Excellence Ambassador: Mhakeda Shillingford
- EmpowerU
- Oct 30, 2019
- 3 min read
Every month, we at EmpowerU would like to highlight one of the many amazing Caribbean youths displaying excellence in the region or abroad. This month we are highlighting Sint Maarten’s very own Mhakeda Shillingford.
To learn more about Mhakeda Shillingford and her amazing accomplishments, check out our interview with her below.
Name: Mhakeda Shillingford
Island: Sint Maarten
Bio: I am a diverse individual; I love politics, but I am passionate about science. I enjoy researching new ideas and projects. I love my various communities and so, I also dedicate my time to help develop and grow them.
Personal Mission: My personal mission is to advocate for those who’ve lost their voice and to shed light on the issues we commonly push into the shadows. My mission is to create a community of self-aware individuals that are empowered and filled with a burning desire to explore the world.
Field of Study: I am currently studying human biology, which I intend to use as a bridge into becoming an OBGYN. I have been passionate about this career since I was 3. I want to be able to see new life come into this world filled with hope and a promising future.
What inspires you: My island inspires me. I live on 16 square miles of a 37 square mile island. I have been advocating for the youths of my island from a tender age, and as time goes by, that need to be intensified. Every generation has their own experience, but it’s our duty to ensure the upcoming generations have a safe and healthy future to flourish in.
Who has been your role model and why: My mother is my role model. She taught for 19 years, and she exposed us to life beyond our four walls. She has always made sure that every student was happy and sound. She is hardworking and my sibling and I learned the true meaning of having an open and understanding heart. We learned how to persevere in any situation life threw at us.
Accomplishments: My biggest accomplishment is founding my own nonprofit, whose mission is to eradicate pedophilia and child molestation. I have received various community service awards. My most recently, I was awarded the President of Parliament Award for my dedication to Sint Maarten and her people.
What obstacles have you faced as you worked to accomplish your goals? How did you overcome them?
My obstacles were mainly political limitations that I needed to overcome. For example, gender and age restrictions have been an issue as I have always been the youngest female, and as a result, I have been told to “stay in my place” hundreds of times. In addition, the limitations of being a CARIBBEAN student in a predominantly white state has lead to me being told no so many times, but I overcame those limitations and became the President of Texas State student government association for over 50 colleges!
Next steps: I hope to expand my organization from Sint Maarten to regional islands and beyond with the goal of being able to shelter and protect our youth.
What do you see for the future of Sint Maarten: I see us making a name for ourselves beyond the stereotypes. So many islanders have stepped out of their comfort zones out of their regions to expand on the life that they know and make their islands proud. Soon we will be more than just dots on a map.
Advice for others:
Believe in yourself. No one can believe in you more than you can. All the negativity, use it as lessons and stones to pave your journey to a belated version of yourself. Life may be hard sometimes but every coal needs the pressure to be that shimmering diamond. Do not give in. Be authenticity you.
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
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