Ms. Thomas is a hard working young lady, determined at being the best in anything she does. Photo: Javon Liburd/ VINO

Cinanda Thomas was the valedictorian at the Bellvue primary School in 1997, is apart of the Phi Theta Kappa Honour Society and was ranked as one of the top three tellers in the VI Banco Popular branches. Photo: Javon Liburd/ VINO

With a determined mind-set to be the best in life and a career ambition to be a lawyer, Cinada Thomas, our Young Professional for this week, is a fighter.

Fighting for excellence in school and work is one of the characteristics of Ms. Thomas that is seen by many.

Through her academic achievements, she is currently the Assistant Customer Service Manager in the Retail Department at CIBC First Caribbean Bank. Sitting under the Customer Service Manager, she supervises the tellers, deals with majority of the monetary transactions and oversees the treasury.

According to our Young Professional, from a young age she learnt to be a hard worker at anything she does and “that stuck with me up to today”.

She attended the Belle Vue Primary school, now the Joyce Samuels Primary, and graduated in 1997 as valedictorian.

She then went on to complete five years at the then BVI High School now Elmore Stoutt High School from 1997-2002 electing Language Arts as her major, and then received her certificate in Business Administration from H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in 2012.

Cinada was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honour Society in 2010 and currently attends HLSCC part-time for her Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Our Young Professional, who hails from East End, Tortola, has been working in the financial sector for nine years but still holds her "true" career dream. “Although it is enjoyable and challenging at the same time I still want to become a lawyer. It will forever be my career ambition.”

She added that she is interested in immigration law and is presently researching more information on that career path, as well as, schools.

So why did she put hold on her career dream to work in the financial sector?

Ms. Thomas told this news site that there was never any ambition or motivation for her to work in the finance sector when she first started. She added that “this was just a case where I was in the market for a job, I applied for a job and I got it.”

But this is not her first bank job.

In 2003, she was successful at landing a job at First Bank, then moved over to Banco Popular in 2006-2008, and with another switch she moved to First Caribbean International Bank.

Ms. Thomas is also a former contestant in the Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant in 2002, where she won the best evening wear segment.

Like every human, there are challenges in life that one has to face, some make you strong while others tear you down.
One challenge brought to our attention by Ms. Thomas is when she first started in banks there were mixtures in the environment and constant changes that had to be adjusted to in "a wink of an eye". “But I love a challenge and that’s why I’m still here, it’s rough at times but the next morning I go head on.”

Even though banking is not her first love, the tendency to be the best at anything she does still remains. While employed as a teller at Banco Popular in the St. Croix Branch, she was ranked as one of the top three tellers out of all the branches in the VI.

“Based on my track record of being valedictorian, I always strive for the best in anything I do, I am a hard worker, I am someone who loves to impress their teachers or superiors and peers. I strive to be an example.”

Other than working, she enjoys going to the beach, reading and researching random stuff over the internet as well as spending time with her son Malachi Maduro (7) and daughter Anique Simmonds (5).

In her life, she looks up to her parents and her old Belle Vue Primary School principal and class five teacher, the late Joyce Samuels.

“She always told me that I can succeed at anything I do, I am a very determined person and whatever I put my mind to, I can get it done. She loved me because I am one of those people who never backed down from a challenge.”

In reminiscence, Mr. Thomas said that the only thing she would change is that she would have gone straight to school and finished her studies before working.
“Back then, experience paid a lot, but now, you have to have the education plus the experience.”

She indicated that she would love to be involved in different social groups but because of the hours she works, it is really hectic and tiring to do so.

Her advice to young Virgin Islanders is that it is important as young people to get involved and take full advantage of education. “Always stay positive and don’t let anybody take away your shine. In life things don’t come easy but you have to be able to say that you will stay focus and work towards your dream.”