Jamaican youth can be described as exemplary, energetic and talented individuals who continuously contribute to national development while simultaneously achieving their full potential.
This year, in recognition of such individuals The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be celebrating youth month under the theme E=MC2 ‘Energising Youth’. Through this theme the youth ministry will seek to identify, harness, showcase and celebrate the very best amongst our already talented youth.
The Desk at 13 West did some investigations of our own to find Jamaican teenagers who have ‘bossed up' and charted their own course. Here are FIVE that we found:
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Ja'dan Johnson - Teen Boss
At an age where most children are busy playing with toys and having fun, Ja'dan Johnson was starting his first company. At just 10 years old, Ja’dan started Vybz TV by shooting videos with his cell phone to feed his live online stream. It grew to over 12 employees in just four years. Today, at 17 years old, the passionate teen entrepreneur is the co-founder of Next Gen Creators , an organization dedicated to giving youths in Jamaica and the caribbean an opportunity to explore their talents as entrepreneurs.
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Antini Henderson - Teen Heroine
Earlier this year, while a student at Merl Grove High School in Kingston, 16 year old Antini Henderson rushed back into her burning home to rescue her 15 year old mentally challenged sister. This was after she had already saved her other younger siblings from the inferno. Antini was conferred with the national Badge of Honour for Gallantry by the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen at the annual National Honours and Awards Ceremony earlier this month.
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Dalton Harris - Teen Star
At just 16 years old, Clarendonian Dalton Harris beat out the much older competition to be the youngest winner of the Digicel Rising Stars Competition, winning the national talent competition in 2010. From as early as the auditions, it was obvious that the teenager was a mighty force to be reckoned with, having a voice that was much bigger than his smaller stature. Dalton rose from a life of poverty and challenges in his North Western Clarendon community to grab the coveted title.
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Jaheel Hyde - Teen Olympian
The entire world watched as 19-year-old Jaheel Hyde competed in the 400m hurdles in the recently concluded Rio Olympics. Competing against men who were much older and much more experienced than him, Jaheel was not to be underestimated. Jaheel made it to the semi-finals in the challenging event, a feat that was achieved by only two of the three Jamaicans in the event. This accomplishment came right on the heels of his second straight world junior title.
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Tchakamau Mahakoe - Teen Scholar
In 2012, at just 15 years old, Tchakamau was successful in a mind-boggling 16 subjects, with 15 at grade one and one at grade two. But that is not why she is a part of this list. She is a part of the list because she achieved something that was never done by a Jamaican. Tchakamau, at 17 years old, was accepted into 11 American universities, nine of which offered her scholarships. Among the 11 US institutions that accepted the super teen's applications were Princeton, Duke, Yale and Stanford Universities and the University of Chicago.
