Jamir Humberto Sanchez, Personality of the Month Award Recipient, (October, 2020)

THE KENRICK MARK COLEMAN FOUNDATION
“Intelligence, Discipline, Wisdom, Excellence”

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH AWARD
“Recognition for exemplifying the qualities of a Hardworking, Talented, Intelligent, and Deserving Young Belizean”

Jamir Humberto Sanchez

Personality of the Month Award Recipient
(October, 2020)

And now, The Official Interview with Kenrick Mark Coleman!

1. Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? What was your family like? What three words best describe you? Why?

My name is Jamir Sanchez and my parents are Jaime and Irma Sanchez. I was born in Belize City on September 30, 1997 and raised in San Ignacio, Cayo. When my family moved West, we lived nearby my grandfather and I spent my early childhood with my cousins, and aunts. My grandfather’s house is the center of large family gatherings to this day, and it holds a special place because most of my childhood was spent there, and at the park right across the street. During the school year and even more so in the summers, the boys in the family and in the neighborhood would be playing volleyball, basketball, and football making our own goal posts with sticks. In my immediate household, we actually grew up to like each other. We leave the bickering for special occasions now.

In 2002, our little family built our home in the Kontiki New Area and we have been there ever since. We have grown as much as the house has. We’re built on a strong foundation, and always have each other’s backs like the beams that support us. We’re radically encouraging, and I remind myself I’m fortunate to have both my strong willed parents, a sister and brother to share this journey with.

If I had to choose three words to describe myself it would be musical, well-read and imaginative. From a young age, I was fascinated with music and instruments that I ended up learning piano and teaching myself guitar. My parents have awesome taste in music too. I hum, sing, anything I find on the records we’ve collected and blast them on the record player if I want to. I use ‘well-read’ since my dad is an educator and English Professor; he encouraged me to read. Pulling from his “Wall of Knowledge” which is a bookshelf that’s ceiling high, I became a more avid reader and I aspire to finish every book on it. Finally, imaginative because I want to cultivate creativity in every aspect of life. Some days I have my head in the clouds and don’t want to come down because the dream is encapsulating. My mother keeps me grounded and helps me look at life from different perspectives; she is my biggest supporter and fan!

2. What are your future aspirations?

I always laugh when I hear this question because I remember a saying “Man plans and God laughs.” I have seen that to be true 10 times out of 10. Within the next 5 years, my goal is to further my studies by pursuing a Master’s in either Developmental Economics, Project Management, Procurement, Data Analytics, Financial Management, Small Enterprise Management, or Management/Marketing. These are fields that have sparked my interest as time passes by. I do want to make a positive and direct impact in improving people’s lives so it all depends on which field will get me there in the shortest amount of time. One thing I have learned about goal setting is that it is always dynamic. You are always changing. In order to achieve a goal you have to hone in on it, and change methods when you don’t see results. Sometimes you reach it, and sometimes you don’t and that’s ok. What’s important is that you find something else to dig into. It’s exciting and scary but you press on.

3. What do you think is one of the major challenges affecting teenagers in Belize today? What is the cause of this challenge and how would you go about correcting the situation?

One of the major challenges affecting teenagers in Belize in my opinion is a rapid deterioration of mental health. I think it’s brought on by a lot of constant social media use and the dark side of that entails cyber bullying and it brings out people’s insecurities. I think people are suffering in silence and it’s not healthy. A simple answer would be to turn off phones, go outside for a walk, meditate, or read. Counseling is frowned upon as well in Belize and I’m not sure why. I feel if people could express their thoughts and opinions in an encouraging environment it could benefit most people. A more complicated answer is that there are negative habits, mindsets and actions that need to be broken down which could take a lot of time, effort, and work. Some people may be afraid to explore new methods because they have accepted their norm. In my observations, people just want to be understood, be heard, and belong to a community.

4. Which holiday of the year do you enjoy most? Describe it.

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. I can’t explain why but I just feel happy. I’m surrounded by friends, family, loved ones and I am going to be completely biased here, but my mom really makes the best Christmas food. Her special cranberry glazed ham is our favorite. There’s wine, beer and I usually make Rumpopo as part of the tradition at home. Aside from that, the house to house visits are fun too. You eat all day long because at all your friends’ house there’s a plate of food waiting for you, so you better show up with an appetite. It really is the best time for me.

5. What is your most memorable experience and why?

There were too many to choose from, but one of the best experiences I had was in December of 2019. I tricked my family by coming home a day earlier than I told them. It was a good “coming home” prank. I surprised everyone who was expecting me. My best friend was also visiting from the U.K; it was the first time in 4 years all of my closest friends and I were in the same room like nothing had changed.

6. I am really impressed with your biography. Please share with us some of your major achievements.

My most significant achievement is having completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Economics, with honors. Having earned the tuition scholarship to Spring Hill College was just the first step toward this goal. As any student will say, having financial aid is half the battle. The other half comes in finding your own finances and putting in the work to reach the finish line. In my case, it almost felt like I had to find 2/3 of what I needed because of our exchange rate and I had to ensure I had enough to cover room and board, incidentals and travel costs. I knew that once I got started, coming home without my degree was not an option because of the initial investment and sacrifices we had made as a family. I worked up to 3 jobs at one time while enrolling in a full course load and remaining highly active in campus life.

I can reflect on my younger years when at the age of 12 I did not only win the Belize Chess Olympiad with my teammates, but also accepted a challenge to play a blindfolded exhibition game in the presence of Grandmaster Maurice Ashley from New York. These instances are reminders of my resolve to always do my best in challenging situations.

7. You recently graduated from Spring Hill College with your Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Economics. Share with us a story of your life at university leading up to the big moment. What’s your secret to succeed?

Being at Spring Hill College challenged me in so many ways. Firstly, moving to a different country not knowing anyone, and not knowing anything about Mobile were really the first steps in plunging into the unknown. Second of all, I was challenged more outside the classroom. I knew I couldn’t just do the bare minimum. I was extensively involved in campus life because I wanted to make a difference in my experience and learn from others. There was always something to learn, someone to learn from, and I brought that mindset and attitude toward every aspect of my time there. I had an opportunity to do great things and I made sure I did. My biggest takeaway would be that no matter where you are, you are capable of more than you can imagine if you give yourself permission to try new things. It is important to put in all your effort, make friends who challenge you, ask for help when you don’t know the answer and lend a hand when you do know the answer. You will make mistakes but you will become unstoppable as you persevere. Spring Hill College and the city of Mobile will always hold a place for me. I wouldn’t change a thing about my time there.

8. In your bio, you stated that you have a passion for learning, leadership and development. How Fascinating! Share with us a story of the various organizations and leadership events you spearheaded/participated in?

I believe learning, leadership and development are innate traits of every individual. I like learning even if I don’t get it right the first time. I think we all have the ability to be leaders and develop ourselves in some area of our choice. Whether you know it or not you can be a leader in different aspects and areas of your life. During my time at Spring Hill College, most events were student led. If they weren’t, students were still consulted and given a chance to share new thoughts and ideas. As an Orientation Leader, there were about 30 of us who were tasked with setting up and taking down different group activities to be entertaining and informative to students and parents. Our catered audience was at least 600 people for 2 day sessions in June. We did them 3 times for the month before taking a break for the summer.

9. You received many prestigious awards this far. Kindly list all. How did you feel after the many victories? What advice do you have for those who are following in your footsteps?

I’ve received acknowledgements in Servant Leadership, as an Exceptional Student and as an Honor Roll Student at St John’s College Junior College. I was also recognized in the Transfer Student Spotlight, as a recurring Dean’s List Student and for graduating Cum Laude at Spring Hill College.

It feels good to be recognized because I like to think it’s a means of encouragement to continue in areas that I stand out. It makes me feel as if I am on the right track; like running a relay race and someone handing me a baton saying “keep going!” If people are following in my footsteps I would say to them, “Don’t settle for less and take full responsibility for your actions, good and bad. If you are passionate about something, no excuse will stop you from completing the task even if you are tired.” I believe that we can all challenge ourselves just a little bit more. Challenge brings change, change brings new problems and solving those problems brings success.

10. Tell us more about your involvement at the Center for Applied Development Studies? What were the most demanding obstacles? What important lesson did you learn?

When I moved back to Belize I found work with Dr. Jay Coombs as the Research Assistant and Economic Consultant for the Center for Applied Development Studies. Working with her was a great experience; she challenged me to think creatively, more analytically and even more outside of my field of experience. While I explored different areas of interests including Sociology and minor Psychology, she helped me make wider connections to our first project. She was tasked with providing a gender analysis for communities in the newly established Northern Wildlife Biological Corridor. I assisted her on field trips and gave her my perspective, as objectively as I could, on the project’s impacts and on the current gender roles and norms in these communities. She reviewed a few articles I wrote before we showcased our research. My biggest lesson and take away from her was to keep learning; there is always more to know that can help you broaden your perspective. She also reinforced that it’s important to keep reading, keep writing my thoughts, and encouraged me to consider pursuing a Master’s Degree. Dr. Coombs was a phenomenal mentor.

11. Tell us more about your participation in the Immersion Program at Spring Hill College? What projects/events did you pursue? How did your projects ‘stand out’? How has your personal energy and skills impacted people and community development?

I participated in 2 service trips while at Spring Hill College; one to Mandeville Jamaica, and the other to the community Nandaime in Granada, Nicaragua. Leading up to our trip we participated in fundraisers, and spent 5 months in sessions learning everything we could about the country we were visiting, things we were bound to face, and learning about our given service project for the week we were spending there. One project was to rebuild and repurpose a hydrotherapy and art room for children who struggled with disabilities and the other was to lay the foundation for a house for a family as part of a housing and empowerment program. These service immersion programs helped me to reflect and appreciate that while it is harder to be of service to people I had never met before, it is where I got my biggest satisfaction from.

12. Please share a little story of your tenure as Resident Advisor & Student Financial Services Specialist at Spring Hill College?

Both positions I held were independent of each other. As a student, being a Resident Advisor in my 2nd year at Spring Hill College was my first taste of working mainly with people. It taught me that there is only so much you can control otherwise you can stress yourself out. While it was challenging being a confidante and peer leader, there were more times I was glad to be equipped with certain training to respond to incidents.

After finishing my degree, the full-time staffed position as the Student Financial Services Specialist opened. I had worked as the Finance and Accounting Department’s Student Intern, while I was a Resident Advisor and had been familiar with some minor aspects of the software and some student processes. When I started officially in January of 2019, I was a liaison to students, parents, and other departments in terms of Accounts Receivables. I had a lot of on the job training, from a great leader and friend, Miranda Tidikis.

13. If you were given the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. John Briceno, what three important issues would you discuss?

If I were given the opportunity to converse with the Rt. Hon Dean Barrow and Hon. John Briceño the top three important issues we would discuss are: increasing capacity for adequate health services, sustainable economic recovery and growth, and investment in green and renewable energy.

Belize has the potential to be the hub between mainland Central America and the Caribbean in trade, tourism, health, education, and industry. We can capitalize on these opportunities to reach new heights diplomatically and economically. It would require prudent spending to help us get through this COVID crisis and collective effort to charter a disciplined recovery and investment plan. The other issue that is strangling our forward progress as a nation is the political discrimination and victimization. As leaders of the two major political parties, when elected to office, they must ensure that the governance is equitable so that there is no room for cronyism. We need to shift our focus toward meritocracy so that the best persons are placed in the best positions, to do the best possible job.

14. Life can be challenging. How do you get rid of stress and what’s your advice to others on this?

Life will always bring stress. The only way to de-stress is to add what they call “good stress” in small doses and intervals. I have found a simple solution: do some exercise, turn off the phone and disconnect for a bit. You need some recovery and personal time for at least 1 hour a day. Maintain a sound mind and a sound body.

15. Which Belizean Hero do you embrace? Why?

I hope this is not a generic answer you get all the time, but I have always admired the late Andy Palacio for his contributions to music and his will to preserve the Garifuna Culture. Because I am musically inclined I feel that we share some characteristics in the way we learned to play musical instruments. In my opinion, his most admirable attribute was the manner in which he maintained his identity. He did not have to pretend to be someone he was not, in order to become world renowned.

16. In one of my recent articles I stated: ‘It is important to realize that the majority of Belize’s younger populations continue to be very mediocre as it relates to becoming holistically educated and cultured, personally and professionally.’ In the latter part of the article I also stated: ‘The primary culture of reluctance refers to a themed, laid-back mentality, wherein our population, or at least, majority of the population, have a meddlesome, unaware, and mediocre approach to self development and self fulfillment.’ What’s your perspective on these two statements?

I think both of these statements bring to light an unnerving truth. Our younger population has become very complacent and haven’t learned what it means to put in the work. In general I see people wanting a one size fits all solution to every problem and they want the gratification instantaneously. It’s become difficult to watch because sometimes it’s a matter of self-persecution. I give huge respect to teachers and educators in the classroom because they are the wearer of many hats when it comes to pushing students to do their best. It seems that teachers end up having to resort to reluctant leniency in some cases. I think it will take effort from a community standpoint to really encourage students to get rid of mediocrity, and to help them understand that there is more benefit to being productive than it is to be idle. Students have the ability to do amazing things, stand out, and be proactive in society when the environment supports it.

Date of Birth: September 30, 1997
Place of Birth: Belize City
Parents: Jaime Sanchez and Irma Sanchez
Brothers & Sisters: Julienne Sanchez (Sister), Joshua Sanchez (Brother)
School: Spring Hill College ‘19

Hobbies: Playing guitar and piano, exercising, reading

With the Powers Vested Into Us:
I, Kenrick Mark Coleman, Founder & Chairman of The Kenrick Mark Coleman Foundation proclaim Jamir Humberto Sanchez as the October 2020 Personality of the Month Award Recipient. Jamir is entitled to an Official Interview, an Authentication Award and all privileges that complement the Personality of the Month Award Program. Jamir now joins thirty-eight other hardworking, talented, intelligent and deserving Belizeans in our Official Order of Distinction.

Photo Credits: Jamir Humberto Sanchez

Acknowledgement: Jamir Humberto Sanchez

Personality of the Month Award Recipients:
Laurita Williams (June, 2008) Toledo
Abel Coleman (July, 2008) Toledo
Gareth Jacobs (November, 2008) Toledo
Floridalma Fajardo (February, 2009) Toledo
Felicita Arzu (July, 2009) Orange Walk
Samson Jacobs (January, 2010) Belize City
Clive Myers (May, 2010) Belize City
Ashanti Garcia (July, 2010) San Ignacio
Leilah Pandy (August, 2010) Belize City
Myra Fajardo (October, 2010) Toledo
Dorien Villafranco (September, 2011) Belmopan
Annlyn Apolonio (August, 2012) Belize City
Micah Goodin (January, 2013) Belize City
Andre Alamina (November, 2013) Belize City
Juana Meza (March, 2014) Stann Creek
Justyn Craig (June, 2015) Belize City
Harsheel Makhijani (September, 2015)Orange Walk
Zeida Montero (October, 2015) Stann Creek
Jasmine Myvette (December, 2015) Sand Hill
Francis Sutherland (February, 2016) Corozal
Cindy Espinal (March, 2016) Stann Creek
Robin Gray (April, 2016) Stann Creek
Juan Bol (May, 2016) Toledo
Andrew Vasquez (June, 2016) Belize City
Kevin Trejo (November, 2016) Orange Walk
Dovini Chell (December, 2016) Orange Walk
Nissa Waldman (January, 2017) Corozal
Bryton Codd (March, 2018) Belize City
Daniel Hung (June, 2018) Belmopan
Dino Emilio Gutierrez (August, 2018) Cayo
Tsung Wei Wu (September, 2018) Corozal
Diany Leal (October, 2018) Cayo
Robin Quilter (November, 2018) Ladyville
Tianna Coleman (March, 2019) Stann Creek
Azizi Hoy (October, 2019) Belize City

Israel Alpuche (November, 2019) Corozal

Asia Gilharry (May, 2020) Corozal

Phaedra Mohammed Ali (June, 2020) Burrell Boom

Jamir Humberto Sanchez (October, 2020) Cayo