5 Question with Gaynelle Scarlett

There is no better example of being able to do all things through Christ, than Gaynelle Scarlett. Like many others, her educational journey was plagued with setbacks, but she never allowed her failures to define her. She continued to pray, and she, indeed, persevered. Along with a few external factors, one of her main driving forces along this journey was her being determined to meet her future self, and doing everything in her power to make sure that dream comes true. With a story of how faith, dedication and discipline can lead us to great things, Gaynelle chose to become an educator to ignite those qualities in others. 

Tell us a little about your educational journey.

My educational journey was one similar to a typical trip from yaad to abroad, or from the country to town. There were days when I felt as though I was on par and meeting all the  requirements (High school for me was like a ride on Highway 2000 - hardly any setbacks. It was a smooth journey). However, during my college years, I was taken on both highways and roads filled with potholes and roadblocks. I was struggling to meet my academic requirements and had numerous failures. I  moved to Kingston for approximately 7 months in 2013 to attend evening classes, to resit two accounting courses that I had failed miserably. I was able to move from an E to an A in Financial Accounting 1, but It was not the  same with Cost Accounting 2. That, once again, hindered me from completing my degree within the required timeframe (4 years). Giving up was not an option, so in 2016, I decided to try again and was finally successful in Cost Accounting 2 (from a D to a B-).  Years later, in 2020, I was given a scholarship to pursue my master’s in Teaching and Learning at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. I had no intention of doing a master’s degree. It was 2 years filled with doubts and fears. I was not even qualified to start the master’s program, but with faith and prayer, I applied, got admitted, started, persevered and completed with a 4.0 GPA. 

What motivates you to go after your goals?

I have always been intrinsically driven to achieve my goals. One of my main drivers is my future self. I believe that if I give up, I will not meet my future self. Despite the challenges and pain, I am determined to meet my future self. The other driving force is making my family proud. My older sister started the University of Technology (UTech) a year before I started The Mico University College in 2009, and it was extremely difficult for my mom to find the tuition for both of us at the same time. While my sister was at UTech, my mom lost her job. She did not want us to have the burden of dealing with a student loan years later, so she ventured into small farming, chicken rearing and a variety of domestic jobs to ensure that we finished college. Her hard work pushes me to achieve more. 

Considering challenges you may have faced throughout your educational journey, share with us how you rose above them to get to where you are today.

I understood my “whys” and so it was almost impossible to quit. I PUSHED (prayed and persevered until something happened) and TRUSTED (totally relied on God until situations turned). With the constant prayer and fasting of my parents as well, I was always motivated to see the end of the journey. I can also recall one particular instance during my undergraduate journey when I felt as if I would just give up trying with one of the accounting courses. When I saw persons from my church community who started college years after I started and were about to complete their journeys, I then got a sudden boost to try again, and I was successful. 

You have assumed multiple professional roles such as: teacher, administrative assistant, and coach. How have these experiences shaped your career?

Being a teacher means taking on multiple roles. A teacher is an assistant, mentor, coach, helper, mother/father, friend, and a counselor. It was my dream of being a teacher that helped to shape me into the flexible, reflective, responsible, resilient, open-minded, and creative professional that I am today. A teacher should not be limited to the classroom but should extend his or her abilities in all aspects of life. My various roles have also provided an avenue for me to be able to compare and conclude the route I want to take professionally. They have also revealed personal strengths I knew nothing about. They have pulled on my social and emotional competencies which support the holistic growth and development of others. You may wonder if it’s stressful to operate in multiple roles as a teacher, but it isn’t. Instead of being stressed, I am being stretched to be my best possible self. 

Share one piece of advice to others who might be going through life’s challenges and feel like giving up.

Be encouraged that the God of all wisdom will never leave you nor forsake you. There is nothing that is too small or too huge for God to do. Kill fear, trust God and trust the process. You do not need to be a “bright spark” to complete those courses, diplomas or degrees. All you need is God, discipline and a firm understanding of your “whys”. Once you know the reasons why you started, you will not quit when faced with obstacles. If whatever you are trying to achieve appears to be impossible, remember that it is possible. Keep going! Keep trying! One day you WILL break free!