Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Froylan Gilharry
The Kenrick Mark Coleman Foundation
Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Froylan Gilharry
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Froylan Lejon Gilharry, originally from Corozal Town. I am the son of Linda America Gilharry Marin and Froylan Gilharry Jr. I am the oldest of 4 siblings.
I attended Corozal Community College. During my high school years I was always an Honor Roll Student, graduating with a total of 21 first and second premiums in different subjects respectively. I also played football for my high school team and was a four-time 400-meters Track and Field champion for the Northern Region. I then enrolled at Corozal Junior College where I majored in Accounting and was recognized as one of the top accounting students in the country. I was also the Student President for the two houses I represented during my junior college years. I moved on to the University of Belize where I majored in Tourism Management and got to learn more about our beautiful country, Belize.
In 2013, I enrolled into the Master’s Degree in Business Administration program at Galen University and graduated with the highest GPA (3.79) of my cohort. I have been working at San Pedro Junior College for the past twelve years, eight of which, I served as the Assistant Dean.
2. You are a vibrant, dedicated and caring Assistant Dean at San Pedro Junior College. What do you believe is important in this your role?
As the Assistant Dean of my junior college the most important role is to ensure that my lecturers are providing quality and up to date information to my students and also, for my students to get the best tertiary education we can offer here at San Pedro Junior College.
3. Tell us more about your career? Why did you choose to venture into this? What are the experiences like?
I believe that being in the education sector is definitely one of the most rewarding and humble careers one can belong too. I have always valued education since an early age as my parents always instilled in me how important it is. As a Lecturer/Assistant Dean, I have the privilege to inspire teenagers/young adults into choosing a career they are passionate about and live a meaningful life. I consider myself not only as a giver of knowledge but also one who inspires and encourages my students to excel.
4. What are the challenges of your career? Opportunities?
The major challenge faced every semester is trying to find a solution to decrease the dropout rate and encourage students to finish their two years and obtain their Associate’s Degree. Our students highly depend on their jobs to pay for their education. Unfortunately due to the high and low Tourism Season faced here in San Pedro and with 90% of our students having full time jobs (working from 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and some on weekends), it adds an additional pressure to them. Our students have to find time from Monday to Friday between the hours of 6pm and 10:20pm to come to school. As mentioned above, the dropout rate is the greatest challenge we face. However, there are many opportunities for students including receiving scholarships from the Area Representative and local government, student loans from the different financial institutions, payment plans that can suit their needs and also applying for sports scholarship that covers their tuition every semester.
5. Describe your best moments. Most demanding times? What’s a classic day like as Assistant Dean? What are your preparations like on a daily basis?
To be honest, the best moment for me is on graduation day! It’s the day one can see their students walking on the stage and receiving their diploma in their graduation gown. As an administrator/lecturer, I know all the sacrifices the students go through their two-year journey and on that day its simply being proud for their accomplishments and celebrating their success. On that day many students and parents come to me and ask to take pictures with them, hug me and shake my hand to thank me for believing in them. This emotion is by far the best moment in my career and something money can’t buy.
A typical day is to report to work at 2 pm. Between 2 pm-5 pm, I prepare for my classes, check papers if I have any, correspond any emails pertaining to school matters, meet with the Dean to address any problems encountered the day before or any matters that need to be addressed for the day. From 5 pm — 6 pm, I have a dinner break. From 6 pm -10 pm, I am either teaching a class or supervising my lecturers or assisting students with any issues they are facing. When we don’t have practice, I go home at 10 pm but when we do, I am supervising the varsity teams preparing for ATLIB competition such as volleyball, basketball, football or softball practice up to mid night.
6. How do you convince potential students to enroll at SPJC? Why is SPJC unique and special? How do you tackle situations such as constant mis-behaving, assignment fraud (theft), and students who are not motivated?
Every year we recruit students from San Pedro High School and advertise on the local radio and newspaper about the programs we offer. The advantage that we have here in San Pedro is that it’s the only junior college on the island. The uniqueness of our junior college is that it’s a night school and 90% of our students take advantage and have full time jobs during the day and on weekends. We also meet with the business association and different entrepreneurs and ask what is expected from a graduate of our junior college to work at their establishment. With their advice we have added and remove courses at our junior college. Two perfect examples of this is that we now offer Quick Books as a class to our Business Students and the Tour Guide Training to our Tourism Students. We rarely experience problems of misbehaving or insubordination here and when it occurs they are called into the office and issue a warning of their conduct and if it is repeated they can get expelled from the junior college. Students that are caught copying or plagiarizing are given a zero on that assignment or project since that is not accepted. All of our student receive a Student Handbook of Polices which describes and explains all the rules and consequences of their actions. We offer the services of a counsellor twice a week to students who are going through difficult situations and need the assistance of a professional free of cost.
7. What are 5 critical points in our educational curriculum for junior colleges that needs immediate addressing and restructuring? (from your point of view as Assistant Dean)
Two critical areas that all junior colleges need to look into is to update their curriculums and syllabus. Some junior colleges do this on a yearly basis, others do it every three years and some are teaching the same topics and using the same text books for the past five years. I believe that all junior colleges must review their curriculums at the end of every semester to make any necessary adjustments. About five years ago, the government started an excellent initiative using The University of Belize to standardize all courses in all tertiary level institutions which to my opinion was an excellent idea and would put all junior colleges to the same level and allow easy transferability of credits to the University of Belize and Galen University. Unfortunately, this process has been postponed and no one knows when it will resume. Another critical point is that junior colleges design programs based on their community needs. This would ensure that employers/managers/proprietors would be employing students that are qualified and knowledgeable to meet their needs. Here at San Pedro Junior College we now offer Quick Books to all our Business Students since it’s a software that most businesses use here in San Pedro.
8. If there was a list of the Top 5 Most Dedicated Assistant Deans countrywide, you would be on it. Given that you lead a busy school life, how do you find time for family and loved ones? Are you involved in any other institutions?
I would definitely consider myself in the top five Assistant Deans in the country of Belize. From Monday to Friday, I dedicate eight to ten hours of work and rest on weekends. I ensure that I complete all tasks assigned to me, plan my lessons for the following week and check all assignments and tests during these days so that on weekends, I can enjoy my personal time. The exception to the rule would be when am coaching the football team and call practice on weekends or we have friendly games then I dedicate time on weekends to my students and when I travel for my class trips or attend meetings and workshops. I am currently working as the Center Supervisor for Galen University and as an adjunct business professor for them.
9. Can you share a story of a memorable time in your life (whether it is pursuing your education, social life, or other)?
Every time I hear my students complaining about having too much homework or projects and don’t have time to complete their work, I always share to them my experience I had when I was pursing my MBA. At that time, I was living in Corozal and was teaching part time at St. John’s Junior College and the University of Belize. So, I had to wake up 4am, get ready to take the 5 o’clock bus to Belize City then walk from the bus stop in front of Palloti to UB, then walk to SJCJC for a class, walk back to UB for another class then walk to Palloti Bus Stop to take the 5 pm bus to Corozal. Upon arrival, I had to log in to my online classes and do assignments. I would go to sleep about mid night every day and wake up 4 am. On Saturdays I had to travel to Belmopan for my face to face class. Sometimes on the bus, I would be checking test papers or preparing for my classes to go teach. I tell my students when there is a will, there is a way! They need to find time, sacrifice sleep and going out to party (there will always be time for that later on). After you complete your degree, you will reap all the benefits. Getting an education is the best investment one can do.
10. What three words do you have to say to young Belizeans?
To all young Belizeans you should never give up on your goals and ambitions. So I leave you with these three words: Perseverance, Self-Actualization and Dedication.
