JOANNE Felix is a Saint Lucian environmental management specialist stationed on the frontlines of the growing regional movement to protect the Caribbean’s natural environment.
Currently based in Jamaica, she‘s employed with the Jamaican government as Director of Environment and Risk Management.
Back in 2011 when Joanne made the decision to further her education, she’d actually had her eye on a career in Saint Lucia’s tourism and hospitality industry.
She applied for a CHTA scholarship from the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, but she did not succeed.
She tried again the following year but, once again, she was unsuccessful. Overcome with disappointment, Joanne began to feel despondent.
However, what she didn’t realize was that those disappointments would turn out to be a valuable learning experience for her and change her outlook on life, ultimately catapulting her on a journey that would help her find her true calling.
“Above all, [not getting] the scholarship taught me the value of perseverance. I felt pretty hopeless. I couldn’t figure out why others couldn’t see my passion, determination and commitment,” said Joanne.
“But eventually I realized that I was no more special than anyone else and I wasn’t owed a scholarship just because I felt I deserved it.
“So I took a risk and wrote to the CHTA and asked if they would be nice enough to review my two previous applications and tell me what I was doing wrong.”
She continued, “They were kind enough to respond and outlined how my essay submissions weren’t responding to the questions effectively. I implemented everything they said, changed my approach the next year and it worked!
“Since then, I’ve been much more receptive and appreciative of criticism. Today it’s very important to me not to internalize criticism in the workplace but to see the value behind it and the genuine concern.”
With her CHTA scholarship she went off to do a course in hospitality studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, USA.
Although she could have continued her studies in the USA or Europe, Joanne opted to do her degree at UWI instead, because she wanted her studies to be grounded in the Caribbean way of life and experience.
Meanwhile, Joanne applied for jobs throughout Saint Lucia and in Jamaica.
“Not one of the jobs I applied for in Saint Lucia panned out, which was extremely disappointing because I was desperate to find a meaningful way to give back to my island and implement all what I had learned.”
One of her dreams was to work at the UN.
“I had learned a lot about the United Nations during my master’s degree program and it was my dream to work with them because of all the amazing work they’re doing for the environment globally.
“I now live in Jamaica under the CSME Skills Certificate programme. I’ve been working as Director, Environment and Risk Management with the government,” said Joanne.
“I don’t get to be in the field as I’d prefer. However, I get to work on meaningful environmental policies and conventions.
“The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, for example, is one agreement that I feel honored to work on.
“It’s a global agreement that is a successful demonstration of what governments can do when they work together.
“It has had a major positive impact on the ozone layer and has shifted global consumption away from destructive ozone depleting substances,” she added. (Tourism Enhancement Fund)