This week our Young Professional is the charming, ambitious and outgoing Keri M.C. Octave, a resident of Virgin Gorda, and someone who embodies the face of the hospitality sector even as she seeks to advance therein through further studies. Photo: Provided

The 22 year old employee of Cape Air stationed in Virgin Gorda is gaining all of the relevant experience that she could before going off to continue her tertiary education in the field she loves so much. Photo: Provided

“I also encourage [young people] to join clubs because joining clubs is where I got my bravery from and taught me how to be a leader,” said Octave, also a member of the Leo Club on Virgin Gorda. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional began her stint working for Cape Air as a Customer Service Agent based at the Taddy Bay Airport on Virgin Gorda in February of this year. She has also worked at the Baraka Point Resort in Virgin Gorda, where she thought she would be able to gain valuable experience. Photo: Provided

“I like to travel, I love leisure, that is why I am forming my base at Cape Air and Baraka Point, because I want to move on to university in the USA,” said our Young Professional, as she commented on why she believes that the tourism and hospitality sector is a perfect fit for her career wise. Photo: Provided

The 22 year old employee of Cape Air stationed in Virgin Gorda is gaining all of the relevant experience that she could before going off to continue her tertiary education in the field she loves so much.

She is a dedicated worker in the field of tourism and hospitality and feels rewarded daily when she interacts with people from all walks of life during the course of doing her job.

Keri M. C. Octave’s father is Melvin Octave and her mother Catherine Eugene. “My father was originally from St Lucia and my mom is a born Barbadian but grew up in Grenada from the age of two,” Octave told this news site.

Our Young Professional was born in Tortola and went over to reside in Virgin Gorda from about three days old. She attended the Bregado Flax Educational Centre – Primary Division where she graduated with honours before moving on to the Bregado Flax Educational Centre – Secondary Division. She said that while she never did any sports in school she enjoyed music and biology.

She then moved on to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) on Tortola in 2010 where she graduated in 2012 with an associate’s degree in business administration.

But instead of going immediately off to university in the United States, she stayed back to gain experience in the tourism industry. She began her stint working for Cape Air as a Customer Service Agent based at the Virgin Gorda Airport in February of this year. She has also worked at the Baraka Point Resort in Virgin Gorda, where she thought she would be able to gain valuable experience.

“I like the job because every day you meet new people from different backgrounds and with different personalities. Every day is like a challenge,” she said.

“I like to travel, I love leisure, that is why I am forming my base at Cape Air and Baraka Point, because I want to move on to university in the USA,” said our Young Professional, as she commented on why she believes that the tourism and hospitality sector is a perfect fit for her career wise.

Our Young Professional said that from her high school days she was part of the school ensemble band. Octave also volunteers at Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR), the agency responsible for search and rescue operations. She is also the three time President of her youth group and she is running again for President.

She is also a volunteer with the BVI Cancer Society, as the body continues to raise awareness and funds to fight to dreaded disease.

She consider herself as a friendly person who has warm disposition, qualities that one must possess if one wants to make it in the tourism and hospitality industry.

To young people, she advises them that life is not a rush. “Sometimes you just got to sit back [and carefully think about what you want out of life]…I encourage them to travel and see the world, interact with people, be friendly, you never know you would be there to help you achieve your goals,” she said.

“I also encourage them to join clubs because joining clubs is where I got my bravery from and taught me how to be a leader,” said Octave, also a member of the Leo Club on Virgin Gorda.