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About Me
Blog Archive
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2009
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August
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- Tribute to Princess Diana
- Shed some light on his darkness
- LIME Recognizes Young Heroes
- Heineken Green Synergy DJ Clash Competition
- Digicel’s royal connection
- Digicel Mad Money winner
- Digicel is giving $5000 cash for texting or callin...
- CMMB Awards Series participants
- Big Turn Out for LIME Ur It Dance Contest
- 2009 La Rose Festival
- The constitution of a company
- St. Lucia Marine Terminals (SLMTL) - A Subsidiary ...
- Solidarity meetings well attended
- Saint Lucians selected for UWI scholarship awards
- MISBEGOTTEN: a novel by Mac Donald Dixon
- Karib Cable Launches Fixed Line Service
- A Sustainable Water Supply for Anse La Raye
- A Mango Festival
- Lamentations of a College Grad
- The Road to OECS Economic Union
- Open letter to graduates
- SLMTL Launches New Website - www.SLMTL.COM
- Governance and the consumer – Part 3
- Going Metric
- CMMB Market Wrap
- Business Mission to Guyana - Guyexpo 2009
- Blinds to go - Huge discounts
- Back to School Spending
- All roads lead to Guyexpo 2009 in Guyana!!!
- Unsung Heroes & Heroines in Saint Lucia
- The UN: Small States interests and support for Fin...
- I want it now!
- Getting tested
- Fair trading to be discussed at AGM of Surveyors t...
- Can Gadaffi’s perception initiate peace talks?
- 1000 Words
- WICBC approves
- Spencer up against World’s Best in Croatia
- Semenya: South Africa’s Golden Girl
- ICC WT20 championships
- DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND
- 8 Weekend Matches in SLFA Under - 19 Football
- Vive la Woz
- Opposition to March Thursday
- CAP ESTATE MURDER
- Windjammer Carnival
- St. Lucia Distillers Receives More Awards!
- LIME Customer Wins Lenovo Notebook
- LIME CEO Visits St Lucia
- FastCash provides the finance for a vintage perfor...
- RSL Reggae Vybes Goes Open Air Tomorrow Evening
- NCF Gives to Diabetics
- Water, water everywhere but, most of us can’t swim
- Surveyors meet on Saturday
- Senator Kennedy moves on … Can Obama fulfil his dr...
- New Park dethrone Police in Castries Cricket
- HORSE RACING IN THE SOUTH
- Grenada and St. Vincent through to Digicel Caribbe...
- 6th Summer Splash Swim Meet starts today
- Possession Of Drugs
- King Defends Daher Building Purchase
- “ARREST THEM!”
- The perception of the poverty aspect
- FirstCaribbean Daily Markets Report
- Grow-ED ECDC on the move in 2009-2010
- Clarence Robinson Memorial Fund Launched
- Castries Twinned To Banjul
- 1000 fans & counting
- The Host of the Agenda against Vendors
- Keep moving…Don’t sit down
- 1000 Words
- SEMI-FINALS TOMORROW
- Sandals Cricket Academy Nine Years and Getting Better
- Mabouya Valley Youth and Sports Council
- Lara: We are best of Friends
- B-I-N-G-O! … Winning is All That Matters
- Social Problems Tackled
- Shooting
- IN-LAW HOMICIDE
- Report Flawed but Poverty Exists
- Solar Dynamics EC Ltd’s Major Tree Planting Campaign
- More LIME Summer Winners
- The revolving door
- Lawyer in the Police Force
- Calderon Granted International Recognition
- What you should know about tithing
- The causes the differences in the characters of men
- Leadership
- “Faith is the evidence of things not seen”
- Why the Need for Recreational Water Quality Standa...
- Venezuela - Saint Lucia Cooperation in the Fight a...
- The Recruit Training Programme - Its Impact on Beh...
- The formation of a company
- Substance abuse Secretariat to host Regional Train...
- SMC Boys Excel In CXC Exams
- Save The Children Fund: St. Helen’s Day Care Marks...
- Saint Lucia offers timely assistance to Taiwan
- Peter and Company Awards Scholarships
- Malgretoute Seniors find new friends at FirstCarib...
- Grow-Ed ECDC says thanks to Jalousie Plantation
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August
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26 comments:
I know how you all feel, I'm in the same boat.
This is a sad story, of course incidences like these are occurring every day. However i'd like to point out a few things. Firstly, sadly our economy in general is in a bad state, and even worse the Caribbean gets the nastiest end of the stick. These days, as future professionals we cannot just settle with a Bachelors. Everyone is trying to move towards getting an advanced degree. Especially in the science field, one cannot expect to get a decent job with just a Bachelors. While I applaud Mellissa's patriotism, one has to also use much wisdom with going about things. Some Caribbean people look down on those who stay in the US of course, because of the whole "brain drain phenom." While it may be true, in its basic stage, being abroad, you have a wealth of opportunities to take advantage of. Take advantage of them, and only after you have made yourself really marketable, and your reputation can stand on its own then come back and contribute to your country, especially for Melissa in her situation and her field. Secondly,recent graduates seem to be too proud to go back to an entry level position. Presently, its something that I encourage. In todays job market recent graduates are competing with others who have a combination of experience and education. The trick is to not just only get an entry level position, but to get one where upward mobility is encouraged and accessible. Getting a 3.7 GPA and all the accolades that comes with it will not suffice. No one really cares about that presently. Rest assured, the economy will pick up and those who will be propelled forward faster are those who were smart enough to employ some of the ideas I stated above and a wealth of others. Thirdly, people are always complaining about the fact that "links" is what gets someone a job. Well here's an idea, make some! Recent studies have pointed to the fact that most companies hire new employees based on employee referrals. So get yourself referred by someone within the company that you are looking to work with. Work your contacts and market yourself well. I know these are trying times, but one cannot afford to sit back and think that the accomplishments acquired during undergrad will get you where you want to go by itself. These are tough times and when times get tough, the tough gets going.
Yes, I agree with the second person's comment. Presently Ms. Preville actually is working on going further in her professional development in order to achieve exactly what she needs to for herself and her country. Keep your head up Mellissa and keep making everyone proud
I know of other persons in similar positions. It is really frustrating to be saddled with student loans and unable to find a suitable job after all the sacrifice and financial expenditure. As Melissa is blessed to have dual citizenship, my advice would be to return to the States and forget all the noble thoughts of assisting St Lucia because I know first hand that without connections, qualifications count for nothing much in St Lucia. It is sad but true.
Did you check what fields were in demand before you went off to study?
I wanted to be an astronaut, but no rockets in Lucia.
Why not start a small business while you wait?
Read the Open Letter to Graduates by John Craciun in the Money Art column of this newspaper:
http://www.thevoiceslu.com/feat_business/2009/august/29_08_09/the_money_art_Open_letter_to_graduates.htm
A couple of the last few comments do not seem very supportive.
It's good that you are trying to make a difference to St. Lucia; however given your dual citizenship it might be best to get work experience elsewhere and then return to St. Lucia with even more marketable skills.
Canada has a skills worker program, but just make sure your credentials are accepted otherwise you could get stuck with the worstest worst jobs.
A BSc in Biology? What did she expect to do with that. A batchelor's degree is the new high school diploma did'nt you know? Melissa, go back to school and get a teaching certificate, then you can teach biology or go to graduate school or med school. A BSc in biology has little value in Lucia unless you want to teach at the secondary schools.
Just in case the last person who commented didn't see this: Presently Ms. Preville actually is working on going further in her professional development in order to achcieve exactly what she needs to for herself and her country. She isn't stopping at a Bachelor's degree. She actually came to St. Lucia gain some experience with the St. Lucian system before going to law school.
"Presently Ms. Preville actually is working on going further in her professional development in order to achcieve exactly what she needs to for herself and her country. She isn't stopping at a Bachelor's degree. She actually came to St. Lucia gain some experience with the St. Lucian system before going to law school."
I do not see this statement made anywhere in this article or should I say promotional advertisement of Mellissa. It just came from a comment of an "anonymous" that bears zero credibility as obviously we do not know who is making those statements.
I do applaud Mel for her patriotisim and is very fortunate to hold dual citizenship that favors her well into returning to the US at will to pursue other opportunities. However your desire to return home is a case of "Good idea, Bad Timming".
A note to the author of this article, I am dissappointed in the approach you took to this article. This subject is very popular and you could have included other references from researches rather than displaying the thoughts of Mel and the other recent graduate mentioned. Other references could be that to indicate what percentage of biology undergraduates either enter the job market or immediately pursue a hgher education. As well as bring up 'questions and answers' to what approaches Mel has taken in her job hunt such as her methods of applying for jobs, follow-ups, etc. Additional information liek this can provide a better insight for many people in her situation to learn from and to further sympathize with her.
To be frank, the article comes off as "I graduate with my degree, and I expect a red carpet to be rolled out for me to enter my job to help turn St.Lucia around".
Ditto the previous comment. As for the person who is saying people are not being supportive, the writer could have chosen a better example to make the point.
I agree, this article was noninformative. All it did was give Melissa some publicity. One of the bloggers stated that a different approach coul have been taken when writing this article. So that it could have been more educational, Where even though others are in the same position. Some insight could have been given to encourage and educated same. Instead of this boo hoo sob story/ subliminal job application.
you really do not owe st lucia anything. the island most likely will always be there ... from the ciboneys to the caribs... to the arawaks to us... get your life going and forget about that gingoistic st .lucia nonsense
Well Mellisa, at the rate there, i feel you should go back to the US and build up your credentials and gain work experience and then you can come back for vacation. Don't feel bad, many other lucians residing overseas are doing the same.
That college grad's picture does not suggest that she is lamenting. I would not hire someone anyway, who moaned about not getting a job, instead of thinking of some way to get ahead in St.Lucia, if that is where she wanted to stay.
I agree with the previous comment with regards to the picture used. The author certainly did some injustice to Melissa and this story. This picture with the clothes she is wearing depicts to me that she is ready to go and fete and come back home to some job offers lined up.
Rule number one when putting yourself out there for a job interest, please wear business attire. Best wishes
oh my... I guess the purpose of this article was defeated. Be it a job application, a promo or what not. Petulah you did Melissa wrong. She was not presented in the best light from so many angles, and most of the people blogging about it seem to agree. Doesn't an editor look at these articles before publishing? There are some really good advice in this blog, I hope both you and Melissa take note. Its all growing pains, everyone goes through it. Best of luck.
I really did not read the full article; it was very boring. what is she expecting? She was issued a loan to persue a degree which is not on the demand list, and she wants kenny anthony, stevenson king, or oprah to get her a job
Couple of comments: It is wonderful to see that ignorance is everywhere in this world. It is also amazing to see that many people cannot read and interpret a story and grab the meaning and purpose behind it. I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I am also away studying. I am currently earning my MS and my MD. So here is some knowledge for all you ignorant people that have nothing positive to say. The reason the way our countries are the way they are is because people keep putting each other down. Instead of applauding her efforts to do something positive, most commenters here are just contributing nothing but negative words. Instead of offering encouragement and good advice (like some people did) the ignorant ones decided it would be more worth their time to offer up non constructive criticism. I personally know Mellissa and I know what her goals and aspirations are and when she succeeds, it would bring me great pleasure to know that all you fools that had nothing better to do than criticize and comment negatively will be proven wrong.
Well said Beth Ann... u should have written the paper add journalism to your set of alphabet soup.
Beth-Ann, why don't you go read the comments again, seems you're the ignorant one. Majority of the comments are supportive or optimistic.
This is so typically Lucian behaviour. Get a little paper in your hand and suddenly you are the best thing to happen to the island. I feel for Mellissa, but the way she is being egged on by some of you folks is not helping her in any way.
Expat
I will strongly recommend that she presents a more professional image if she is very serious at getting a job. This photo looks like a myspace image. I agree getting a job in St.Lucia can be very difficult but the next option involves creating opportunities. Think creatively. Start a small business. How can you transfer your skills in biology into others areas of employment. Would it be possible to start by volunteering time to share the knowledge. Before we can get what we want we have to give.
Ms Beth Ann there is a friend of Mellissa so whatever she says carries no weight.
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