Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Robin Gray
The Kenrick Mark Coleman Foundation
Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Robin Gray
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I was given the name Robin Gray by my parents, Aloma McCoon and Richard Gray. They also gave me 5 biological siblings, some of whom have procreated and made me the lucky aunt of 3 adorable human beings. I also make claim to a bunch of Williams’ kids, as Mr. Alfred and Mrs. Antonette Williams have acted as my second parents for the majority of my life. I am both a southern and a western girl, as I denote both Independence and Georgeville as my home. My favorite colors are green and brown, which matches my “hug the trees” mentality when it comes to conservation. I am an employee of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, currently enrolled at National Taiwan Ocean University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Aquaculture. I tend to describe myself as friendly, loud and outgoing. My friends describe me as smart, stubborn and the one that never answers her phone. I am a proud Belizean, proud feminist and proud supporter of binge reading.
2. You are currently enrolled at (National Taiwan Ocean University) pursuing a Master’s Degree in (Aquaculture). What do you believe is important in this your role?
FAO has described aquaculture as one of the fastest growing food producing sectors. The Belize info center describes it as an industry with much potential to diversify the economy of Belize. I describe it as the industry that provides jobs that pays the bills for a large population of the Stann Creek district working class.
As one of those people employed by the Belize aquaculture industry, my hope is to harmonize our aquaculture production with the environmental, social and economic aspects of the business so as to ensure sustainable development and continued growth of the industry. I believe that research in aquaculture plays an important role in identifying bacterial and viral disease that threaten the growth and development of the aquaculture industry. My role in this process is to ensure that the health and disease status of aquaculture in our country maintains open borders for trade while controlling the introduction and spread of diseases at the national level.
3. Tell us more about your academic life at this University? How did you receive the scholarship? Why did you choose this particular University? When did you commence studies? What subject areas are focused on? What’s your relationship like with fellow students?
I selected NTOU because it was the only university on the application form that offered a master’s degree in aquaculture. I received the scholarship the same way any ICDF applicant would; I applied for it, and they vetted the application and decided I was indeed worthy of receiving it. I commenced my master’s journey in August of 2017. My major is aquaculture with a focus on shrimp virology.
I would describe my academic life as mundane. NTOU has a small international student population and we take most of our classes together. I have been told that my friendly personality has made me a bit popular among the foreign students on campus (I vehemently deny this statement). Though we make an effort to socialize and interact with each other, majority of our time is spent in the lab with our lab mates. I am lucky to be able to call my lab mates my friends. They are all Taiwanese and have been invaluable in helping me navigate my research, academic and social life here in Taiwan.
4. Describe your transformation process from the Stann Creek District to Taiwan?
Transitioning from a village girl to living in a rather small city in Taiwan has not been as big a transformation as one would imagine. Keelung, my home city in Taiwan, is a nice place to slowly acclimate to living in a country as advanced in infrastructure, industry and technology as Taiwan is. The slow pace of my city has allowed me to truly appreciate how convenient and safe it is to live in Taiwan. Taipei on the other hand, is a larger metropolitan city where I often get lost. Google maps and friendly Taiwanese people have gotten me through many “where the hell am I?!?” minor panic attacks on some concrete corner or the other.
Food has been a constant battle. The moment I become comfortable enough with any number of local dishes, my lab mates convince me to try new ones. At any given time I would prefer western influenced dishes, but I am slowly adopting to eating Taiwanese dishes and trusting my lab mates to order local dishes for me.
5. What are the challenges you face as a student at university? Opportunities?
The language disparity has been one of the biggest challenges for me at NTOU. However, I am fortunate to have two other Belizean students here that are competent in mandarin and have been nothing but helpful to me since I got here. Living in a dormitory and sharing my personal space has also been a challenge for me. But it is something that I have learnt to accept for what it is, a test of my ability to adapt and persevere.
Opportunity wise, I love that there is a possibility to learn something new almost anywhere I go in Taiwan (cultural, infrastructural and technological). I enjoy the opportunity I have to do my research in fully equipped laboratory facilities. I also appreciate that through inclusion in training concerning the culture of different aquatic species, international seminars and local and international conferences, there has been plenty of opportunities to network and foster connections with like-minded individuals in my field.
6. Why is your major important to Belize’s National Progressive and Sustainable Development?
More than its importance to Belize’s National Progressive and Sustainable Development, my major is in alignment with 5 of the 17 development goals outlined by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations which Belize is a part of. It is particularly concerned with the 14th goal which describes fisheries and aquaculture as industries that offer ample opportunities to reduce hunger and improve nutrition, alleviate poverty, generate economic growth and ensure better use of natural resources. Investment into the human resource that controls the aquaculture industry in Belize through the investment into research and science, is also an investment in Belize’s obligation to meet number 14 of the sustainable development goals and a tool that can modify and improve an important industry.
7. Apart from your studies, do you participate in activities with other Belizeans/classmates there? How do you uphold Belize’s namesake? What is your personal definition of discipline and excellence?
The nature of my major is very demanding, as such I rarely participate in activities with other Belizeans outside the classroom. But in an effort to uphold Belize’s namesake, I participated in cultural exchange activities with some of the middle school students around Keelung. For these days I get to dress in traditional cultural cloths and share the beauty and culture of Belize. More often than not, I share pictures and videos with my lab mates and peers about Belize. I speak with them about the similarities and differences in our food, culture and society. They are all fascinated with the beauty of Belize and have expressed their interest in traveling there.
My personal definition of discipline and excellence is to do what needs to be done to the best of my ability, even when I do not feel like doing it. I think that it is easy to show that you are excellent at something if it is something you enjoy doing and if you are doing it at a time that is convenient to you. However, if you are doing something that you don’t enjoy, at a time that is inconvenient to you yet, you do it to the best of your capacity; that is discipline and excellence.
8. In one of my recent articles, I stated: ‘It is important to realize that majority of Belize’s younger populations continue to be very mediocre as it relates to becoming holistically educated and cultured, personally and professionally.’ What’s your perspective on this?
I would amend your statement to say ‘It is important to realize that Belize has failed its younger generation by not providing the resources necessary for them to become holistically educated and cultured, personally and professionally.’
Mediocre is described as of only average quality, not very good. Is this not the way that you would describe majority of the educational institutions in Belize? Are the majority of our institutions focused on more than just passing students from one grade to the other? Does the majority of the population have access to after school activities, counseling etc? I can only speak for myself and the communities I hail from, but to these questions the answer is no. So I cannot help but ask myself how we expect these deprived institutions to produce majority ideal ‘holistically educated’ individuals?
To the ones who achieved the ideal against all odds, I say congratulations. To the ones who could not, keep trying to be your best selves. You are the ruler of your reality, your biggest supporter and greatest enemy. Even when the system fails you, do not fail yourself.
9. What can Belize expect from you in let’s say, the next 5 years? What is your perspective on discrimination in Belize (across the board)?
In the next five years I hope to have made a positive contribution to the aquaculture industry through my work with BAHA. I intend to continue to make positive contributions to the youths in my community. As a young adult in my community I feel that it is my duty to encourage them to aspire to become their best selves. This is my number one objective.
My opinion on discrimination in Belize is, Belizeans are very discriminatory. It is in our culture to criticize and ridicule that which is different. Based on my experience here in Taiwan, I would not say that we as Belizeans are more discriminatory than citizens from other countries. I would say that we are more vocal with our discrimination. We also have the habit of blurting discriminatory and shaming things before researching the topic and trying to get a different perspective. This is particularly obvious in this age of technology where it is so easy to discriminate and judge people because it is not to the individuals face.
10. What three words do you have to say to young Belizeans?
Courage, determination, persistence
Be courageous enough to aspire to greatness
Be determined enough to follow that aspiration
And be persistent enough to achieve it
