North Andros student, Isaac Barr, has been named the 2022 Deltec Scholar and awarded a full 4-year scholarship and mentorship experience at The University of The Bahamas.
The journey to becoming a Deltec scholar in his own words:
“One of the best things about growing up on the family island is the constant feeling of safety, security, and an abundance of peace. On the other hand, if there is anything that I have learned over the last 17 years of my life, it is that opportunities are extremely rare.
Learning is a huge part of my life and I always seek to learn and grow and expand my experiences; I noticed early on that without school and education, a lot of people would not be where they are today. I had my sights set on furthering my education at UB upon graduation even though I knew that it would be an uphill battle financially and Nassau seemed out of reach.
One day at school I was introduced to the Deltec Initiatives Foundation that would later change my life completely! It seemed that finally I had the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. The opportunity to be granted (if I was successful) was not just any scholarship but a full 4-year scholarship that included, accommodation and a stipend. This was the opportunity of a lifetime! And I knew deep down that this was my moment to make my dream a reality and my last chance.
I applied and was called up for my first round of interviews. Although I felt prepared going into it, I soon realized that I had so much more to learn. This interview opened a whole new world to me. I was surrounded by professionals who not only wanted me to succeed but were willing to guide and coach me to success. I felt like a sponge absorbing as much information as I possibly could. I knew I definitely wanted to be the voice of my generation. It inspired me more than ever to obtain my BA in Media Journalism.
A week later I was elated when I found out I made it to the final round of interviews. It was crunch time. My life and my future in education all came down to this one interview. The internal pressure I felt was intense.
They flew me into Nassau where I was interviewed by the entire board of Deltec Initiatives Foundation. I took all the tips I could from the previous scholars, did as much research as I could and practiced so that I would go into that interview with the best possible chance.
To continue reading about Isaac’s journey, click here.
