Sandra at work. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional for this week is Sandra. N. D. Ambrose. Photo: Provided

Born on the main island of Tortola to parents Ronald C. Ambrose and Paula C. Ambrose, our Young Professional grew up in Horse Path but now lives in Sea Cow’s Bay. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional working in the fields. Photo: Provided

Presently, our Young Professional works at Conservation and Fisheries Department as the Laboratory Assistant. Photo: Provided

Well, that’s the story of our Young Professional for this week Sandra N. D. Ambrose. Notwithstanding the years that she has worked in the field of science, she is committed to making a change since she believes she has a lot to give to the hospitality sector.

Born on the main island of Tortola to parents Ronald C. Ambrose and Paula C. Ambrose, our Young Professional grew up in Horse Path but now lives in Sea Cow’s Bay. She attended the Enis Adams Primary School then after this she attended the then BVI High School.

“I went there up to Form Two and then I went up to New Jersey for about three years then I moved to Georgia where I finished my Form Five/12th Grade there,” she said.

Our Young Professional explained that she was a B average student in school and her favourite subject was early childhood development which she took in Georgia. “I love math and I love science as well,” she said.

“Right now I am going to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) part time and then when I am finished with my Associates Degree I would be going to do my Bachelors. I don’t know what as yet but maybe hospitality,” she said.

Her studies at the HLSCC are in natural science and biology but she has a desire to move into hospitality. “I feel more at home meeting new people every day,” she said.

Ambrose explained that to continue her studies she might either go to the US or to the UK. She is still doing her research to see which would be the best option for her as she has to cater for her daughter whom she plans to have with her.

“I am still researching some of the colleges because I want to make sure that my daughter has proper schooling before I decide where I want us to go,” said Ambrose.

“We still have to worry about how far the school is from my school, times and stuff like that so I could make sure that I keep an eye on her,” she said.

Presently, our Young Professional works at Conservation and Fisheries Department as the Laboratory Assistant. “I was recently confirmed to the position this year but I can say within the three years I have been acting as Laboratory Assistant,” she said.

Regarding to her future career in hospitality, Sandra wants to provide a proper customer service. “I would actually come back to the BVI and help them with their customer service because I notice that when I go around to different establishments, the customer service is good but it could be better so I would train myself in that and try to help the BVI. I might go into tourism as well,” she said.

Ambrose said that she fell into the present job by chance, explaining that a colleague was going away to school and wanted someone to fill her position.

“At first I was a fisheries trainee, which doesn’t really have much ‘hands on’. Yes I do different things with the fishermen in the offices where we have filing, answering the phone and dealing with different queries and so on. But I said I needed something hands on and something that didn’t have me stationed one place. So when she left I said why don’t I just go into that position and see what it is about. Then from there I was confirmed to be the acting Laboratory Assistant but now I am confirmed Laboratory Assistant,” she said.

She has been recently confirmed as a Rotaractor. I am part of Rotaract in Tortola and from September I was a full on Committee member,” she said.

In terms of other activities that she participated in, our Young Professional said that as part of the Rotary Family, she and others recently participated in an activity at the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly. “We actually assisted and had a meet and greet with the elderly and the disabled because they are not older people there but disabled people as well,” she said.

In giving a word of advice to young people, our Young Professional urged that they find the area they want to build a career in from an early stage. “Find what you want to do from before and stick with it. Go for it. Don’t let anybody tell you that you cannot do it. You can do it,” Ambrose advised the youths.