You may have heard about her in conjunction with the local high schools' flash mob project. Not afraid to be herself and quite up for facing challenges is this week's Hotseat subject: Tephany Baptist!
Where are you from?
I am a born St. Maartener. I lived here till I was about 10 years old and then lived in Aruba for about seven years. I attended Sister Magda Primary School and attended Milton Peters College for a short period before I moved to Holland.
How long have you been living on SXM?
As I have already mentioned, I lived on St. Maarten till I was about 10; but I always used to come back for summer or Christmas vacation, so it was as if I never left.
What do you do here on SXM?
I am currently studying in Holland and I must say I am enjoying it. I am doing my MBO in Sociaal Cultureel Werker. This study is the perfect fit for me, because I always wanted a career where I can help people. My study is basically a mix between social work and project management. In my opinion, that's the best of both worlds. I am currently doing my internship at St. Maarten Academy PSVE and I am glad that I got this opportunity to really work in the St. Maarten school system.
Why are you glad you got the opportunity to work in the St. Maarten school system?
Because of the fact that I want to come back and work on St. Maarten after I'm finished. I would have to work in or with the school system, so it's smart to understand all the ins and outs; also because the most problems happen at school, because the teenage stage is the most difficult stage for all of us. So basically, I can get all the experience I need to become a great social worker.
What's the coolest thing about your study?
The coolest thing about my study is that I get to work with different cultures. This gives me a bigger view on different life situations and I'm always open to new things.
Describe yourself in three words!
If I could describe myself in three words, I would say creative, friendly and determined. I think in life you should set your goals and actually go over your own expectations. I live by the motto "No grind, no shine." Creative – because I like to think outside the box; I have a habit of always thinking big. In my opinion, if you really want to do something, you will find a way no matter the circumstances. Now friendly can sometimes be a bad thing, because I can almost never say "no"; but I love helping people in need and that I can never change.
What are your hobbies/activities that you do here on St. Maarten?
I can't say I have any real hobbies any more. I don't really have that much free time anymore. But I used to enjoy swimming and drawing cartoons.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I think I would be back in St. Maarten making a change.
If you could invite three famous persons (dead or alive) to dinner, who would they be and why?
That's a good question.
#1 is Jane Addams. They called her the "mother of social work." She is the founder of the Hull House. She gave back to people in her community, from sewing classes to feeding families, she did it all, regardless of their race, gender, age, etc. In her words, "Aid in the solutions of life in a great city to help our neighbours build responsible, self-sufficient lives for themselves and their families." I would love to just pick her brain.
#2 is Stevie Wonder, living in a dark world and still happy and content. We can all learn something from people like this.
#3 is Sean Penn. I recently heard how much he has done for Haiti and how he can be so selfless. I would love to develop more of these qualities from the people stated above. But of course, I will take it one day at a time. I am currently organizing a project which is called FlashMob Project. With this project, I want to see more school spirit; I want to see students unite and have more pride for their schools. I chose this dancing competition because I know that the youth of today love to dance, but also because it's something new and different.
For more information about the FlashMob Project, please contact Tephany Baptist: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 586-5147.
