5 Questions with Denroy Watson

Student, Social Entrepreneur

1. Tell us about your educational journey.

Denroy Watson’s education journey began at Mona Chapel Kindergarten and was nurtured at Rollington Town Primary, until he was placed at Camperdown High School with an 85% GSAT grade average. Watson’s educational journey was not always filled with sunshine and rainbows. He started out as an average student at his basic school and eventually matriculated to Mona Heights Primary where he struggled greatly to fit in with his peers, teachers and fellow schoolmates. Watson’s first 2 years at the Mona Heights primary was amidst the most difficult years of his educational career. He was seen as an outcast because of his height and was constantly ridiculed for being tall. His confidence gradually diminished from the once confident and expressive student to a misfit fueled with despair. Watson was once accepted and respected. He found himself alone, lost in an abyss of psychological depression. Having constant battles with his grade 1 teacher (Ms. West) and schoolmates, Watson’s academic grade went in its own direction due to his lack of academic focus. Eventually he was placed in Grade Two where he met his new teacher Ms. Tate Francais. This was where Watson began to see the light at the end of what seemed like a horrific dream. At first Francias was a bit skeptical of Watson due to the propagated stories she heard amidst the grapevine. Ms. Francais and young Denroy Watson soon after became friends. Due to the friendship and brotherhood formed between Watson and Francis, she recommended that Watson find another institution to continue his educational career. If Francais was absent from school Denroy Watson would always be at the principal’s office, in trouble. The story was “He is a disruptive and defiant

student.”

Denroy Watson's educational journey was further developed and nurtured by the phenomenal teachers at Rollington Town Primary School. Though he was still teased about his height by his fellow peers, Watson found teachers who believed in him. Each form teacher Watson received from grade 3 to 6 constantly pushed and encouraged him to achieve his best. Watson was confused at first but he was truly

inspired when his principal came to check on him personally. The grade 3 teacher at the time said that “He is not doing so well and he does not understand the work.” To that his principal, Doctor Margret Bailey replied “That is okay. He’ll get there.” Those words still remain with Watson until this day. That was the moment Watson decided to actively make a change within his academic career. The first two years of Watson’s High School’s educational career once again began in turmoil. Though a co-head institution, Watson was placed in an all-male classroom. This time the entire class of males was considered to be disruptive, loathsome and garrulous. It was a fight not only to learn but to survive everyone's expectations of who he was. For two years Watson struggled academically, until third form when Watson scored top of his class. That was when he was given the opportunity to switch classes. In grade 10 he was placed with the elite students of 10 E. During Watson’s 5th form years he was still behind in a lot of the basics. That same year Watson represented his country in the CentroBasket FIBA tournament in San Juan Puerto Rico. Denroy Watson was the Captain of the Jamaica National U17 Basketball Team. He also captained the Camperdown Basketball team to Two Conference Finals where they won both titles. In addition he topped two subjects (Foods and Nutrition and Principles of Business) with his institution for the 2019 May/June CSEC exams. Within that same year Watson was crowned Mr.Camperdown 2020, captained and led his U-19 Basketball team to another 2 time conference finals where they won both titles. Watson is currently in grade 13 where he is the Head Boy of Camperdown High School, a Student Activist, Youth Leader, motivator and a role model among his peers. Though the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on Denroy’s Mental health, he is confident he will achieve all four grade 1’s in the upcoming CAPE exams.

2. What motivates you to go after your goals?

Growing up I did not have a male role model to look up to. Though his father was present in his life, he was absent throughout his development as an individual. When I was young, I searched desperately to fit in. Mom and Dad were always busy, Mom mostly because she works during the day and goes to school at night. My sisters are five years older than I am and everywhere I searched I just didn’t belong. The reason I go after my goal is for all the Denroy Watson’s in Jamaica. To be a beacon of hope for those without hope, to give strength to those who are without strength, to be a role model to those who have no one to emulate and to be a model citizen. The thought that someone else out there is in my situation, scares me enough to do something about it. To chart a path where no one else has ever been before and to inspire others to find their own path. The aim is not for others to become like me but to realize their own

potential and become better than I am.

3. Tell us about “The Tenacity of the Hearts of the West Indies” movement?

The Tenacity in the Hearts of the West Indies Youth Movement, primarily the head prefects at Camperdown High, Holy Childhood High, Campion College and St. Georges College are encouraging students across Jamaica and the Caribbean to aspire for grades 1-3 in the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). The Tenacity in the Hearts of the West Indies Youth Movement members are cognizant of the psychological and the mental health issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on students’ learning. As a result, the movement was developed to assist students with depression, anxiety, paranoia and other mental health related symptoms. The movement is charged with empowering CSEC and CAPE students within our respective institutions, Jamaica and the Caribbean at large. The first step is to remind students that each and every one of us are powerful beyond imagination. This process is achieved through our motivational series. For example our recently published ‘Call To Action for CSEC and CAPE Students’ campaign video. The next stage is to actively work towards acing our CSEC and CAPE exams. This process is achieved through studying, practicing past paper questions and making a commitment to one’s self to not fail. These actions along with our resolve to not fail will eventually garner the attention of the public, policy builders and governing bodies of each nation, to realize that the youth of the Caribbean region are more than capable of solving the exams crisis by achieving grades 1-3, through encouragement and support among each exam participant. A pack of lions without encouragement, will always lose to a flock of sheep led by a lion who is encouraged. This is because a lion who is encouraged can transform a flock of sheep into warriors and eventually those sheep will become lions themselves. In other words, if we as students cannot find it inside ourselves to motivate or encourage another exam participant, we Individually run the risk of not only failing ourselves but our respective nation as a whole.

4. Share your recipe for creating balance between, extra-curricular activities such as volunteerism and academics.

Duty Driven

- At some point in everyone's life you will develop a sense of duty, whether consciously or unconsciously. Eventually the goal of just working for money will dissipate. Why not start from early? I will tell everyone to do what you're passionate about and it's not too late to turn things around. I found my passion and duty, and that's what I’m working towards every single day. I won’t stop until the Job is done

Goal Oriented

- Set goals and make plans to achieve each and every one of those goals. Develop a model to achieve your goal and then work towards them every day. As we all know if you don’t plan, you plan to fail.

What advice you would give to your peers today?

1. Be confident- When you are going after your dreams be confident and even if you fail remember the confidence you once started with. Hold your head up high even if you start crying. Moving forward is ‘Up’ and to look ‘Down’ means to retreat.

2. Listen More - There's always something to learn. No matter how smart you are, there is always someone smarter, thus it is good to listen because that’s how we learn. Remember you are not always the smartest person in a room.

3. Find a solution in each conversation - Argue to reach a solution, not to prove your point. If there is no solution to reach, that simply means you need to stop talking, as you are merely wasting time and oxygen.

IG: _.denroy_watson._

YouTube: I AM DENROY WATSON