Ms. George is a Clerical Officer at the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs. Photo: VINO

At work, where interacting with the public makes up a typical day. Photo: VINO

Having worked in the customer service industry for more than 20 years, our featured young professional Rena M. George finds such a duty as second nature. Ms. George is a Clerical Officer at the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs.

Her work she says includes secretarial duties, which includes answering hundreds of telephone calls on a daily basis, attending to customers when they come in or directing them to an appropriate officer when that need arises, preparing approval and denial letters for trade license applications and filing of documents.

Ms. George started working with Government in 2007 as a Clerical Officer III at the Premier’s Office and in November 2008 was transferred to the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs. Prior to working in the Public Service, she worked for 21 years in customer service as a Retail Clerk at the Bitter End Yacht Club.

In fact she started working in the customer service environment as soon as she came out of school and leaving there after so many years was a sad goodbye but her experience was a good one despite challenging at times. “I wanted to go but always had a goal in mind to work for Government.”

Our Young Professional also did a stint at Necker Island, which she said was a wonderful experience.

Making a change of workplace after so many years was expected to be somewhat of a nervous moment for Ms. George.

“At first it felt kind of strange because it was a different environment and staff. I settled in, focused on the task at hand and did what was to be done... I enjoy what I do because I love dealing with customers and it gives me great satisfaction in making sure they are happy. At the end of the day once I accomplish the task and they are happy I am also happy that I can say I helped someone.”

A product of the Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School in Virgin Gorda, Ms. George attended the then BVI High School for four years before completing her final year of secondary schooling at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre.

Asked why she did not continue to pursue higher education, our young professional said it had a lot to do with her personality as she was always timid and indecisive.

“I was afraid to make choices and that is why there were a lot of things that I should have done in my life and I did not do it. I was even shy to make friends. But the older I got so did my confidence grow and some of the things that I should have pursued a while ago I am pursuing now.

Ms. George is pursuing a degree in Business Administration at the H. Lavity Stout Community College (HLSCC) and has intention of getting into small business. Such is the magnitude of her confidence.

Working and studying is now the order of the day for our young professional, who admitted that to balance work and study is often very challenging for her but she remains focused on her goal. Now that she has a lot of friends too she is able to benefit from their words of encouragement and inspiration. She says her mother too has been encouraging her to make her dreams come true.

And even while the idea of having her own business, one which she did not wish to reveal at this time, remains strong in her head, she would like to see herself progress in her current profession to which she is fairly new but has a desire to succeed in.

Asked if she was married or had children, our young professional answered in the negative but said that is also a dream that she would like to see become a reality some day and is in no rush but is trusting God to deliver on that. “God has always provided for me and he will provide that as well.”

And speaking of dreams, Ms. George advises youths to follow their dreams “because in most circumstances your dreams turn out to be the best thing that you could ever do. In order to accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. Don’t let go of your dreams because if you have determination and believe in your dreams you will succeed in spite of the feeling to let go sometimes. The fulfillment of your dreams lies within you and you alone."

She also stressed on the importance of furthering their education at the earliest opportunity. “Education is a plus so I would tell them to continue with their studies. Don’t ever give up on your studies.”