Phaedra Mohammed Ali-Personality of the Month Award Recipient-(June, 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”

Phaedra Mohammed Ali

Personality of the Month Award Recipient
(June, 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?

When I am asked about myself, I can’t start without mentioning Burrell Boom and my family because without the two, I would never have been where I am today.

I love when people ask me where I grow up. I respond to them proudly — “Burrell Boom Village” so that they can do an “oh”. I loved growing up in Burrell Boom. It is a small community and while we mostly know who’s who, and even though my parents are not natives, there is a resounding presence of community support whether it is through softball, cricket or cheering on a school bus when it returned with a student winning from a Spelling Bee competition. It is definitely the place I loved growing up and the place I plan to grow old.

I am the eldest of 4 girls. My parents, Gerald and Beverly, didn’t have any sons so we settled for two male dogs. While my home is 90% female and 10% Daddy, we are far from one of those girly households! We are all members of the National Scout Association of Belize so those weekends and summer camps, hikes, mud games, camp fires, etc were the gem of growing up. These activities fostered tough and strong females who occasionally dress fancy. My dad is the comedian and fun fact giver while my mom is crafty and the after-school teacher. My sisters know the lyrics to every song that broadcast on the national radio and accompanying dance moves. We also made the honor roll at school and can hit a home run for our high school softball team.

Three words which best describe me are OUTGOING, PROACTIVE, and GOAL-ORIENTED.

*OUTGOING:

Last year, I was given a funny award at my delegation award ceremony, the “Travel Pants” award for being the delegation’s professional “puppy foot”. While it was funny because I took almost every bus across the city, I am a firm believer of being well balanced so while I will study for hours, I also enjoy a nice trip, participating in competitions or learning something new.

*PROACTIVE:

I definitely got this from my mom! I can never sit still or keep quiet. It is always about a “next move” for me.

*GOAL-ORIENTED:

I set goals and work to make them happen. I learnt that motivation tends to fail a person while setting goals instill some sort of discipline — it has helped me a lot.

2. What are your future aspirations?

Seven years ago, this question was posed to me when I was sending out scholarship applications and my response hasn’t changed since. I aspire to become a Forensic Pathologist (a personal interest and the need for one in Belize).

While my outgoing nature and previous extracurricular might suggest politics, for now just being a part of the team of health care providers will allow me to check my aspiration box proudly!

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?

The plight of teenagers is not far-fetched for me since I have two teenaged sisters. While my challenges as a teenager may have been different, I am able to relate to what’s happening now.

I think one of the major challenges affecting teenagers in Belize today is social media relevance. While the rest of us who was born before the booming of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Tik Tok do not feel pressured to post everyday or keep an avid social media presence, our teenagers do because of what their reality dictates. Their lives have become more about followers, likes and re-tweets rather than doing things for personal enjoyment and development. We are faced with teenagers feeling the need to participate in every new challenge on social media and suffering with anxiety and identity crises more so than before because of their need to be “liked” on social media. Technology has been widely incorporated into our educational systems so their effects and proper usage should be taught as well. Incorporating the “Social Media Talk” into homes and guidance classes at school could help young people discover themselves in a healthy way in the virtual world to stick to the “Do it for the love and not for the likes” concept that was presented to us by Chronixx.

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

My favorite holiday of the year cannot be one day. It is the entire month of September for me. Patriotism is so important!!! I carry my Belizean flag everywhere both literally and figuratively all year long. I have a profound appreciation for my country. When I was younger, my mom had gotten one of the Centennial anniversary books for St. George´s Caye day and it had a wide variety of Belizean songs. We would make it a tradition to sing each of them every September at home and to this day, I still do.

When I was at UWI Mona, during the month of September, it was all about putting on a week display in the school’s main library and having our September gathering. In Cuba, we always got a cake, did a few “hip hip hoorays” and passed the evening with the rest of Belizean students. With the 10th and 21st day parades and Soca being one of my favorite genres of music, September is my favorite time of the year!

5. What is your most memorable experience and why?

My most memorable experience took place on a cleaning Saturday in my house. I was listening to the Kid-O’Rama show on Love FM as I did every Saturday. It just popped in my head that I’d want to be on that show too. The young hosts would highlight a child right in accordance with the Convention on The Rights of a Child and share a story. I realized that these stories sounded like experiences I have. So, I went to my mom with the idea of being on the show. She told me that I should write a letter to Love FM and she would deliver it. Of course, my mom made it happen, the way she always does!

She gave my letter to Mrs. Julia Carrillo-Jones, who was in charge of the show’s recording. Although she was not the organizer, she told my mom she would hand my letter to the representative from the NCFC, Mrs. Stephanie Daniels-Moody (the organizer). I’m not sure if Mrs. Moody was more excited than I was but I got the most exciting phone call from her and was invited to my first meeting at the NCFC. That one little letter I wrote led me to meet many other young people. In the first days, my dad would have to pick me up from school and take me to the city to record the shows. Eventually, I learnt to take the bus by myself at age 10. This opportunity sparked my interest in youth involvement and of course, the spiral into my full blown youth work for the rest of my career. On Saturdays, my entire house and community would look forward to listening to me on the radio.

My mom still has each show recorded on cassettes.

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

My major achievements:

*Head Girl 2010–2011 at Wesley College

*Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Belize National Youth Council, 2012–2014

*Member, BNYC Steering Committee

*Member, Biotechnology Honor Society, SJCJC, 2012–2013

*Deputy Coordinator, Youth Movement Against Violence Belize, 2012

*Vice President (and followed by) President, Belizean Students’ Association of Jamaica

*Secretary, Federation of Caribbean Students’ Association, 2015

*President, Caribbean Delegation of Medical Students, ELAM, 2018

7. You graduated with your Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from the University of the West Indies in 2016. Share with us a story of your life at UWI leading up to the big moment. What’s your secret?

University life is a whole new world and to navigate it, you need your ‘head screwed on properly’. I wanted to study medicine but when I applied in 2013, I got short-listed and then rejected from every scholarship I applied for except the Professional and Technical Scholarship to study Biochemistry at UWI Mona. I went through so many disappointments before I got to UWI so I knew I had to put my all into doing well even though it was the second choice career.

UWI or UWIverse has the Caribbean ‘melting pot’ of cultures mixed with academics and the strong Jamaican presence. Competition in class was always strong! It was truly impossible to make it through the Science and Technology Department without like minded friends and now lifelong friends Tenneisa Jackson (Jamaica) and Renard Lewis (Grenada). The three of us took on the academic challenge and even did final year research projects. We completed our studies on time and with honors. It was not easy! It required a lot of studying with a few meltdowns here and there.

When studying abroad, both academics and adapting to the society are challenges! Jamaican culture, food, and way of life is very different. Stewed chicken and dumplings are both breakfast and lunch specials. Getting accustomed to their mannerisms and general culture was a challenge because my roommate and I were the only two non-Jamaicans on a majority Jamaican female block at Irvine Hall (Sasha from St. Vincent & the Grenadines and yours truly, from Belize). Sasha was my balance. I was purely academic and academic based extracurricular but she introduced me more to the culture — dances, slangs, etc. We also met Najeé who was also from SVG but attended UTECH. He was an athlete. We received some good old Jamaican sporting experiences. The three of us were vibrant together.

I quickly became involved in extracurricular. The Belizean Students’ Association of Jamaica (BELSAJ) was dormant at that time. We revived it! I first served as Vice President and then as President and even designed the first logo we used in 2014. The “islander” terminology used on the campus upset me every time so I would make it my business to put Belize, the mainland territory, on the map. Our little delegation won the Caribbean taste competition and even made it on the opening page of the UWI website, the team effort paid off!

Every year I’d make sure new Belizean students get a smooth transition into the campus life. Since I only had my roommate and a few other Belizeans when I first started, it was tough. My friend Leeann would always tell people about her first week at UWI. She remembers being in my room eating powder bun and cheese and sleeping on the floor because she didn´t like her residence building.

I was the student representative for my department, joined the Guild External Affairs Committee, participated in hall activities, UWI debate society, UWISTAT and a whole bunch of other activities just to balance out the stress level of studying.

I find that studying hard and balancing it with good company and extracurricular activities make for a great and successful university experience. I completed my degree in due course, forged some lasting friendships and experienced the Jamaican university culture in entirety.

8. Tell us more about your academic life at this Medical 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 am fascinated that I finally got to study for the career I always envisioned! I applied for the Cuban Medical Scholarship in 2013 before I went to UWI but was unfortunate. I applied once again (after my UWI graduation), this time with more experience and maturity. As a matter of fact, Cuba has always been the face of good medical practice in our region. Additionally, there is great need for medical professionals in Belize to speak Spanish. I was duly convinced that studying here would be the best opportunity for me, so in 2016 I applied and luckily, got accepted.

Cuba, in my opinion, is a prominent independent nation in our region although they are faced with the adversity of the ‘unjust’ embargo enforced by the USA. They make their own products with most items marked “hecho en Cuba”. This is something we don’t see in our supermarkets unless we are buying a bottle of Marie Sharp’s Pepper Sauce or a Belikin Beer.

I am currently in my third year. It is my clinical year where all the theory subjects we studied in the first two years have to be applied — patient physical exams, drug administering, pharmacology and internal medicine. It is full-fledged hands on work, which I like. We spend three years (including learning the Spanish language). We have first and second year of career studies, at Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina in Havana with students from around the world. As we enter our third year, we are distributed in schools across the country to start our clinical year. In ELAM, there is a close-knit relationship amongst students. Actually, my first roommates were from Suriname and Fiji and it was a fun cultural experience. The Belizean delegation was sent to Santa Clara, (Villa Clara in my year). This is a province in central Cuba about 269km away from Havana. We are very new here but our Cuban classmates are really welcoming.

9. You received many prestigious awards this far! Kindly list all. How did you felt after the many victories? Why should young Belizeans build their portfolio?

Awards:

(2010) — Youth Minister’s Award for Young Leaders

Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports

(for involvement in youth and community activities)

(2011) — Venture Scout Award

Scouts Association of Belize

(for continuous service to the association)

(2013) — St. John’s Humanitarian Award

St. John College Junior College

(for endless contribution to community outreach efforts)

(2015) — Female Athlete of the Year

University of the West Indies

(for participation in sporting activities)

(2016) — Students Today Alumni Tomorrow Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador of the Year

University of the West Indies

(for excellence as member of the UWI community)

(2019) — Caribbean Female Leader of the Year

Caribbean delegation in Cuba

(for excellence in service to fellow Caribbean students in Cuba)

I encourage students to build their lives. Young Belizeans need to find the activity that drives them (and not because a parent tells you to) but because you personally like it. It serves as a good balance outside of school activities!

10. Tell us more about your involvement in the Regional Youth Caucus? What were the most demanding obstacles?

I became the Belizean representative for the Commonwealth Regional Youth Caucus in 2012 under the guidance of Ms. Jewel Crawford. The Caucus was short-lived and now replaced by the Commonwealth Youth Council. The aim was to establish National Youth Councils in each member state. After the International Year of the Youth celebrations in 2011, I became a part of the planning committee for the Belize National Youth Council.

At that time, we were just in the planning stages: writing our constitution, designing the logo and completing general structure. Through my membership in the RYC, I was able to liaise with other members who were also in the planning stages. We discussed issues faced in the planning process and how to counteract them.

The two most important things learnt were THE VALUE OF NETWORKING and THE STRENGTH OF UNITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

11. Tell us more about being a Writer for the Commonwealth Youth Correspondent and the experience as a Debate Club Member at UWI? What projects did you pursue/present on? How are the two memberships similar and/or different?

The Commonwealth Correspondence program was also launched in 2011 in the International Year of the Youth. My involvement in all the activities, planning, etc. just encouraged me to continue participating. The program was aimed at allowing young people to write about issues the youth were facing in their respective territories, well not just highlighting issues but triumphs as well. One of my articles was about politics being a man’s game since (at that time) female representation in the political sphere in the Caribbean was at an all time low. The program really fostered awareness too since you were able to read stories from all over the Commonwealth.

Being a member of the UWI Debate Society was very different from the correspondence program. The correspondence program fostered expression through writing while the UWI Debate Society fostered verbal expression though both encouraged me to read more to become well aware.

12. Can you tell us about the various community service initiatives you were/are involved with? How has your personal energy and skills impacted people and community development?

I was involved in community service from primary school. As a scout, I participated in clean-up campaigns and picking up sand for the construction of a health center in Valley of Peace.

My first community outreach was volunteering to be the mail carrier for the local post office. Getting mails in the community was always a pain! They would be received and you would never know if you had any if you never went to the office to ask. My mom suggested this idea when I was brainstorming ideas for my community service badge. People were very appreciative and my sisters still continue delivering mails to this day.

My youth involvement commenced with the National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) through the Kid O’Rama Show. In 2011, I started doing more activities with Youth for the Future (now Department of Youth Services). They had an activity called (City Quest), very fun and vibrant! I utilized this idea with the help of Ms. Dolores Aguilar and my parents of course to debut (Boom Quest). The activity allowed young people to organize themselves in teams. We then gave them clues to find historic places around the village. The team who finished first won several prizes.

I also taught computer classes to children in the summers at the community internet café, helped at school fairs, movie nights at the community center and VBS.

13. Share a story about the struggle and victory of the Caribbean Female Leader of the Year Award?. What is the purpose? How has this impacted your personal development, and your peers?

In 2018, I was nominated as the President of the Caribbean Delegation of Medical Students in ELAM. I had experience from my UWI journey and decided to bring innovation and ideas to the ELAM experience. I think I did a good job!!!

We organized Miss Caribe 2019 — our very own Azizi Hoy (fellow Personality of the Month Award Recipient) represented Belize, placing as 1st Runner — Up. We also had our first Carnival. Furthermore, I designed a new logo for rebranding, got our first ever delegation t-shirts, organized fellowship nights and a host of other ‘welcoming’ activities. Medical school is challenging and having constructive outlets are more than important especially living in a country with a different culture.

Receiving that award was a group effort, my support system really made it possible! Without my friends Delia, Leeann, Devaughan and my family we would have never been able to get those t-shirts from Belize to Cuba. Thank you to my roommates for volunteering to work at our fundraisers and being my creative consultants. The award was a recognition for all those efforts. It has definitely reinforced my appreciation for the people standing beside me.

14. 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?

*LACK OF INDUSTRIAL DIVERSITY

Belize sits on the perfect geographic position when it comes to economic trade. While our low population density is a hindrance to general economic development, we have so many resources! We are a mainland territory yet we rely on tourism as a fore runner industry. We can’t even compete with our Central American neighbors when it comes to industry. We need HOME-GROWN INVESTMENT.

What happened to our Coconut Oil Factory? We don’t even make matches anymore! Has anyone ever seen locally made Peanut Butter? Belizean Ketchup? There are many products we can make for local consumption and later on, export. This will increase job opportunities and economic growth.

*INCREASING THE QUALITY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION

Belize is bigger in land mass than Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, yet they have UWI campuses that offer a plethora of study programs. We have the perfect backyard for degrees in Environmental Science yet our potential environmentalists need to study in another country. We truly need to develop the standard of tertiary level education!

Cuba has an embargo but excels in educating and competing on the world level. Belize has no embargo! Belize is an English speaking nation and has the perfect geographic location. We would definitely be an option for students from the Americas.

If we invest in tertiary education programs, there can be more returns than our initial investment. People would become more industrious, performance quality would increase, and of course, healthy competition would be a reality.

*BETTER MEDICAL CARE IN RURAL AREAS

I was born and grew up in a village and I study medicine so the topic of rural medical care is very dear to me. In the entire river valley, it is difficult to seek adequate medical attention. We need to travel to Lord’s Bank Polyclinic or Belize City. The situation in the rural areas in the south is worst. Belize has a very small population yet we have not been able to enforce preventative medicine or provide sufficient medical care for the country.

Burrell Boom has a health clinic, which is sufficient for its small population. But, how often does a doctor pass through the village? Nurse Ana is your only hope. If we provide better medical care from the clinic level, chronic disease cases and minor checkups can be done at that level. A person experiencing an asthma attack or getting bitten by a snake should not have to call an ambulance to be taken to a hospital. A clinic should be able to take care of that.

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

I am a medical student — stress is my daily reality! More so, I study in a foreign country with Spanish being the first language. My extra-curricular activities have always been my outlet to get rid of stress.

I ask all young Belizeans to find an activity they are genuinely interested in because it help with stress relief. I am a ‘talker’ because I don’t think internalizing issues solve them. My parents and my friends are always my listening ears. The support of family and friends is very important!

My friend Lisa is passionate about mental health awareness. We always have discussions about issues surrounding stress and depression. You can read a book, listen to music or draw some art to deal with the struggle.

16. Which Belizean Hero do you embrace? Why?

My definition of hero is anyone who is consciously contributing to the Belizean society and cultural framework. I embrace the very outspoken Miss Carolyn “YaYa” Marin Coleman.

Her energy and vibrancy calls. Her “two cents question of the day” stimulates the nation in generating new opinions. She is among the driving forces in educating Belizeans to appreciate and defend Belizean Culture. Whether it is through the anti-Paslow Protest (which really inspired me to participate in the renaming competition and capturing second place), promoting Emancipation Day, empowering women and youth, promoting arts and culture, and entrepreneurship, she delivers and defends. She is definitely the energy I embrace. Honestly, she is a living Belizean Hero!

17. 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.’ 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?

Belize’s motto “Sub Umbra Floreo” or ‘Under the shade we flourish’, in my perspective promotes a laid back lifestyle. Belize is just there in the shade, relaxing, and it is not just reserved to the country’s youth. Only recently and due to social media, our population has finally had something to say but really on the ground, we are still under the shade.

I don’t think it is fair to say that the youth population in Belize is mediocre. There has been a considerable increase with young people seeking higher education, becoming involved in community activities and becoming authentic beings. However, there is an imbalance because we focus on becoming educated, and not well cultured.

Can we blame slavery for oppressing us, physically and mentally? Look at the amount of people who actually show up for a protest! We need to learn from the sugar cane workers who burned a few tires every time the system tried to cheat them and of course, the teachers who strike. We need to give young people something to be proud of! Pride really stimulates motivation. This is a core problem we have that can be fixed but through much uncomfortable change.

Date of Birth: November 2, 1994
Place of Birth: Belize City
Parents: Beverly & Gerald Mohammed-Ali
Sisters: Miekah, Danielle and Johrdan
School: Universidad de Ciencias Medicas, Santa Clara

Hobbies: Amateur graphic designing, volunteering, adventures, listening to music, writing

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

Photo Credits: Phaedra Mohammed Ali

Acknowledgement: Phaedra Mohammed Ali

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