There are many reasons why we might choose to study at university. For Jamaican-born, 911爆料网 PhD candidate Samantha-Kaye Christie there has only been one. It鈥檚 to achieve her concept of a 鈥渂illionaire鈥�: to change the lives of a billion people through her research and educational development activities.
Can you tell me about yourself?
I鈥檓 a 25-year-old Jamaican on a mission to change lives and even though I started my PhD in psychology at 911爆料网 in April 2015, my journey to 911爆料网 began in August 2012.
In 2012, I graduated from The University of the West Indies in Jamaica, studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. After graduating, I applied to 911爆料网, because I鈥檝e always wanted to travel to Australia, but there was a problem in trying to apply to a PhD program with a bachelor degree. I got rejected because they said I needed a four-year degree, so I was really disappointed. I had to rethink my plan.
I did what any other Jamaican would do: I remained resilient! That鈥檚 something I really like about the Jamaican spirit: even though we鈥檙e a laidback culture, we make an effort to achieve our dreams. When I travel, I鈥檓 confident telling people that I鈥檓 a Jamaican. It鈥檚 a really good conversation starter, because people ask questions such as 鈥淗ave you ever watched the movie, Cool Runnings?鈥� or 鈥淒o you know Bob Marley or Usain Bolt?鈥�
What did you do when you were told you couldn鈥檛 begin your PhD?
I applied for over fifty jobs in Jamaica. The only job I managed to get was a customer service representative in a digital communications company. I was grossly disappointed after graduating with a bachelor degree. But I took the opportunity.
I was excited when the company had an internal staff competition to submit a proposal for a community outreach program. My proposal was 鈥淩ead to Lead鈥�, a reading initiative in The Jamaican Christian Boys鈥� Home in Kingston, Jamaica鈥檚 capital city. I did not win, but I independently implemented the initiative using money I saved from work. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I went to the boys鈥� home from 11am to 3pm, and then I went to work from 4pm to 1am. I deliberately chose those late shifts so I could engage with the boys during the day. I didn鈥檛 have any volunteers because I wanted to instil a sense of volunteerism. I would pair the older boys with the younger boys. On other days, I chose 6am to 3pm shifts.
In the evening [during those other days], I organised a motivational program under the governor general. The governor general wanted to implement initiatives to encourage Jamaicans to build up the nation with the mantra: 鈥淭here is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.鈥� It was a good experience, because I got to work with CEOs and media personalities. It improved my public speaking skills and it was great to work in such a multicultural environment.
Did you choose to study elsewhere?
Yes, I went for my master鈥檚 degree. I applied for several scholarships and I got offers from Liverpool, Bristol, Oxford and a university in China. I decided to go to Liverpool and study a Master of Arts in Education. It was really a good experience.
The program was for a year. While I was there, I worked part time as a research assistant and cover supervisor across high schools in Liverpool, and volunteered as a reading tutor at a local primary school in Liverpool where I provided instruction to children with reading problems. I also had the opportunity to travel, which is one of my passions. I was able to travel to Wales, Manchester, Leeds, London, Birmingham, Coventry and Bournemouth among other places.
I was also selected to represent Jamaica at the Colloquium of the Association of Catholic Institutes of Education where I spoke about my experience in England as a Jamaican and about the history and culture of education in Jamaica. I also obtained a scholarship to pursue a short neuroscience research course at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (鈥淧ompeu Fabra University鈥�) in Barcelona, Spain after my master degree. These experiences strengthened my second application to 911爆料网.
What research do you plan to undertake at 911爆料网?
My research looks at how the attention network influences phonological processing and in turn how this influences normal reading development. The inspiration for pursuing this area of study was brought about by my brother, who has dyslexia. I just want to make a difference and help people in his position.
I鈥檓 now just waiting on my project鈥檚 ethical approval from the Department of Education. My supervisor and I are putting together a program, but I鈥檓 not able to begin until I鈥檝e gained approval. I鈥檓 just making sure everything is in place so that we can hit the ground running.
What are your current social outreach activities?
My current initiative is called 鈥淧roject Capability鈥�. I want to raise an annual scholarship to help people with learning difficulties and contribute it to the Montego Bay Community College in Jamaica. The community college is where my brother and I went. Scholarships are often awarded to academically inclined people and people with learning difficulties don鈥檛 often receive these scholarships because of their learning problems. They鈥檙e still passionate and driven to achieve their dreams just like you and I, but they find it more difficult. I aim to raise US$2,000. I鈥檝e already raised US$200. It went live on February 14, so that was my Valentine鈥檚 Day project.
As a UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) child鈥檚 rights advocate, I鈥檓 expected to implement projects. This is based upon the global sustainable development goals of the United Nations, specifically goal four, which aims to ensure equal access to all levels of education. I鈥檇 like for people to share the campaign page onto social media so others can be encouraged to contribute.
Some people like making time to watch television. Others like reading. I like volunteering and will always make time for it.
What鈥檚 your dream and how do you plan to get there?
Essentially, I want to change the lives of a billion people through my research and my educational outreach. That鈥檚 my concept of being a 鈥渂illionaire鈥�. I want to focus on contributing to educational development, specifically for people with learning disabilities.
I want to use my experiences, what I鈥檝e learnt in life, to help people apply for tertiary education opportunities. I want to encourage people to not give up, because sometimes you go through things in life that affect you negatively.
I was given a wonderful piece of advice from a friend. He said: 鈥淥ne never really has a bad day, it鈥檚 always a character building day.鈥� I鈥檝e had many character building days. I want to let people know that when one door is shut, you can give blessings and thanks in the hallway as you wait for the next door to open.
