This Week We Feature Young Professional Nateshon R. Thomas who sees the sky as the limit to his dreams. Photo: Provided

Nateshon R. Thomas with the boys. Photo: Provided

There is a man to whom he will eternally be thankful to God for sending him as a guiding angel at the right time, Coach/Cousin Terrence Chinnery. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional shared that there are a few persons he holds dearly to his heart, including his girlfriend Kiwana Emmanuel, his mother who always made sure he was fed and in good health, Terrence Chinnery, and all the children and others who believe in him. Photo: Provided

Nateshon R. Thomas in 2010 with his softball team, along with sponsor, the late J.S. Archibald at a banquet. Photo: Provided

Nateshon R. Thomas during his playing days at Western Oklahoma State College. Photo: Provided

“His route did not take the traditional form. He did not play for a Division I collegiate baseball team. He did not come from a well-recognized USA high school programme! However, son of the soil, Nateshon “Shadow” Thomas has been able to realise his dream of playing the sport he loves…baseball, and getting paid to do so,” Mr Skelton had wrote.

Captured in that small paragraph is what one can take to the courts of law and affirm or swear to the Holy Bible and say, “It’s the truth and nothing but the truth.”

From VI to Germany

Mr Thomas or ‘Shadow’ as he is fondly called, came from a big family with not that much wealth. This made things somewhat hard growing up. Today, however, he is going to school and playing baseball in Germany but has all intentions of one day returning to his beautiful Virgin islands to make his contribution in the field he knows best- Baseball.

“You can just say I LOVE sports. Growing up I played almost every sport it had to offer and was pretty good in them all. I mean I did track and field, played basketball, cricket, soccer, volleyball and of course baseball. Since I've been in Germany, I have a renewed love for the sport of baseball as I finally get the opportunity to do what I love and get paid for it and I feel like this is just the beginning to the greatness to come,” Mr Thomas said to Virgin Islands News Online.

A big family indeed as he said, “What I call a big family is me, my two brothers and four sisters, me being the youngest boy with only one younger sister. Brothers names are Akeemo (Keemo) Callwood and Darius (Shine-I) Semper; sisters are Barbara Smith, Kishma Cameron, Akesha (Kesha) Thomas and Akia (Leona) Thomas.”

Mr Thomas thought that by telling his story just as it is and was would be an inspiration to many who have gone through or is currently experiencing life as he had it. “What made it hard is not having all that I needed for school and having to get it from family members or friends of the family, also not having name brand stuff which at times would make people bully you and call you names. Also, by following friends and company I wasn't doing well in school and got in trouble a couple times when I wasn't even involved in what happened.”

Attitude of gratitude

But even though his problem throughout high school faltered his academic progress, there is a man to whom he will eternally be thankful to God for sending him as a guiding angel at the right time. “My Coach/Cousin Terrence Chinnery was determined to help me further myself. So through one of his friends on St John USVI (A lady whose name I can't remember) I was able to obtained my high school diploma from -Cornerstone Christian Correspondence School- in Townsend GA,” Thomas related to this news site from Germany.

“I think what defines me is my persistence and my ability to stay positive in most situations, which has led me to where I'm at now.”

School life

Mr Thomas attended the Francis Lettsome Primary School where he said he was an average/B level student and graduated with B-B-B.  He then went on to attended the Elmore Stoutt High School, which at that time was the BVI High School. “My semester there was noticed for my academic achievement but, as I said, following friends and company led to my academic collapse and that along with some misled knowledge led to me dropping out and attending the BVI (TVI)-Technical Vocational Institute.”

He, however, later attended the Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) where in his first year he attained a 3.0 GPA. He then went on to attend Bluefield State College.

“At this point I have about 75 credits but I have two classes to do over so I could obtain my associates degree then I'll move on to my bachelor’s degree,” he said confidently.

“I’m hoping to have a successful career as a pro baseball player and then come back home and work teaching children the game of baseball and help baseball grow in the BVI.”

This beat for him all started with coach Terrence Chinnery because of the effort and time he put into helping him as a person and as a baseball player. “But then I was more driven by the kids and people that believed in me and would from time to time tell me that I should have gone pro a long time ago.”

Other than playing pro ball, 5-10 years from now he sees himself back in Tortola, Virgin Islands living and working to help baseball and baseball players grow to higher heights. “I would say in the business field. Being self-employed and owning my own business is something that always interests me and is always on my mind. Nothing beats being your own boss and working for yourself. You are pretty much in control of whatever accomplishments you make in your business,” he said.

Thomas said that for the most part he is a quiet guy but when around friends, “I’ll talk a lot. Also if the topic is interesting, I'll give my input.”

He loves playing basketball with friends, working in the gym, spending time with people he loves dearly like his girlfriend and of course his friends. “My friends are like family, we look out for each other no matter what and always encourage each other. Even though some of them thought my move to Germany was not the best choice for me they still encouraged me to make the best of it and do my best.”

“I'm currently dating a girl by the name of Kiwana Emmanuel. My heroes are my mother, who always made sure I was fed and in good health. Terrence Chinnery, who I think without him I would have probably been one of the guys on the corner. The kids and the people that believe in me and always has,” Thomas listed as the people dear to him.

Advice to youth

In giving his advice to youth and the general reading population, he said, “I would say (together-ness) meaning stick together through good and bad, encourage each other to do good and become a better person and help each other in every aspect of life, because I feel kids today will quicker talk down on each other rather than lift each other up and motivate each other to do better and become better.”