Their children may have been the ones whose names were called, but it was parents who beamed with quiet pride as the newest crop of academic high‐flyers became the toast of the nation on Friday. Behind every scholarship and exhibition, the honourees agreed, stood families whose support had shaped their journeys.
He could have studied medicine or law, but Kamran Moseley, a past student of the Barbados Community College, chose animation. On Friday, his parents stood proudly in his place as he was honoured among the island’s top achievers.
Kamran, who is now pursuing a bachelor’s in animation at the University of the West Indies Mona campus, in Jamaica, earned a Barbados Exhibition this year.
His mother, Alicia Moseley, apologised for his absence, telling Barbados TODAY that he has already begun his higher education.
“He worked really hard. He had the opportunity to study many other fields, but he wanted to break the barrier where everyone’s accustomed to studying certain academic areas,” she said.
“He wanted to create a new era for Barbados in animation, where there are children who don’t have the opportunity to do this field. And he wanted to use his degree so that he could open a hub in Barbados, so they could actually get work in Hollywood from Barbados and help bring foreign exchange into the island.”
The proud mother noted that supporting that dream came naturally, a promise she made years ago after her father encouraged her along the path of sports and science, though she really wanted to study music.
“I promised myself that if I ever have a child, and they have a certain field they want to follow which is not ordinary, I’m going to encourage them,” Alicia said.
Kamran’s father, Christopher, agreed.
“The world is so different now than it was when we were small,” he said.
“We always said we’ll allow them to follow their passion. If you love what you’re doing and you’re good at it, you’re going to find your way. And we believe in him 100 per cent.”
They advised other parents to trust their children’s gifts.
“Your gift is something that haunts you,” Alicia said.
“If you push them into another career, they’ll do what you want, but they won’t be fulfilled. There’s so much money outside of Barbados in these fields, but he’s not doing it for the money, he’s doing it because he loves it. When you love something, the money comes after. So let your children follow their gift.”
Other awardees also credited family support for their success.
Scholarship winner Adara Nicholls, who will study chemical engineering at the University of Nottingham, said encouragement kept her going.
“I’m extremely grateful and relieved that all my hard work has paid off,” she said.
“I could not have done this without my family and my friends. They reminded me that I was capable.”
Her father, Senator Gregory Nicholls, described her as “exemplary from the start”, saying her achievement was the result of discipline and balance.
“She’s a very serious and hard worker,” he said.
“Many times I came home late at night from meetings and she was there putting in the extra effort. We’re very happy that she was also balanced, she pursued music and sports as well as academics. This has been a whole family effort.”
Another scholarship recipient, Amareo Ifill, said discipline and determination were his guiding principles.
“I am very relieved and accomplished that all of my hard work has finally paid off,” said the Queen’s College alumnus, who plans to study pharmacology at the University of Bath in England.
“Always keep your goals in front of your mind, and that will keep you strong and steady.”
His father, Robert Ifill, praised his son’s self‐motivation.
“I didn’t have to push him at all,” he said.
“He was always excellent, always focused. I’m happy to see that his hard work has paid off and continues to pay off.”
During the announcement ceremony, Educational Transformation Minister Chad Blackman, who congratulated this year’s 30 awardees, said family support remains the foundation of academic success.
“It certainly gives me great pleasure to extend my personal and heartfelt congratulations to all of you,” he said in his address to the winners and their families.
“I say all of you because while the students were the ones who sat the exams and did incredibly well, hence why they’re here, without their support system, their parents, their guardians, their families, it would not be possible.” (SM)
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