Meet the aspiring registered nurse Tichina A. Penn, our Young Professional for this week. She wants to make a difference in the lives of not only those born in the Virgin Islands but those who are visiting and residing here from other countries. Photo: VINO

Penn was recently crowned Miss Jr. BVI. Photo: VINO/File

Penn in her work attire. Photo: Provided

She hopes to also become bilingual allowing her to be a bilingual nurse practitioner and to contribute to her country by being able to provide health services to a growing multicultural community. Photo: Provided

Penn, the 2014 Miss Jr. BVI, has as her platform, to promote social and physical activities among the young with different abilities. Photo: Provided

From an early age she was inspired to have a career in healthcare because of the suffering she saw her grandfather experienced. As a child she helped to take care of him and this fostered within her a desire to bring relief to those who are suffering.

Born in Tampa, Florida, USA, to Virgin Islander parents who hail from the Main Island of Tortola, Penn’s early childhood was an active one, she said. “[I did] swimming, rowing, sailing, scuba-diving, I was a very active child,” she said. She is also a certified instructor in some of those activities. "I am actually certified in sailing, swimming and scuba-diving,” she said.

“I went to school at the Enis Scatliffe Pre-Primary School and also the Althea Scatliffe Primary School. My favourite subjects were always English spelling and science. I always excelled in those but math was always my trouble. But I did overcome math,” she said.

Penn attended the then BVI High School “then I moved on to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and then transferred to the University of Albany and then I transferred to Valencia College where I am obtaining my Associate’s in science and going on to completing my RN (Registered Nurse practitioner).” Her studies towards the RN will be completed in another 2 to 3 years she said.

Busy at school in Florida, USA, she said that whenever she gets the opportunity to visit home she gives her time at the Peebles Hospital, working at the Dialysis Unit.

She said that as an aspiring nurse practitioner she would like to work either in the Dialysis Unit or in an Emergency Room (ER). She said that in order to specialize she will not only have to undergo more training but also she would need a lot of experience and this is what she is trying to rack up by working at the Dialysis Unit at the hospital.

She spoke of the experiences during her young life that motivated her to get into healthcare.

“In my early childhood I found out that my grandfather was dying of cancer and every morning I would go with my dad to give him his shots or he would send me to the store. I would help him to take care of himself. I was really close to my grandfather so that really pushed my drive for being a nurse, seeing my grandfather suffer,” said Penn.

“So as I was growing up I said I had to be in healthcare, either a doctor or a nurse to take care of not only the elderly but the young also,” she said.

She hopes to also become bilingual allowing her to be a bilingual nurse practitioner and to contribute to her country by being able to provide health services to a growing multicultural community.

To the young people trying to decide on their future, Penn had this bit of advice, “We are all given an equal opportunity to get a proper education. We should not be afraid to make mistakes because that is a part of learning. Always try to surround yourself with positive people who will uplift you. Use this opportunity to gain all the knowledge relevant to everyday work skills.”

Penn, the 2014 Miss Jr. BVI, has as her platform, to promote social and physical activities among the young with different abilities. She hopes to open a day centre for the elderly where they could come and socialise and play games in an effort to improve their wellness.