The Daily Herald -Check me out - Franshelis Garcia!

I was born in Dominican Republic on December the 2, 1988. At the age of four, my brother and I moved to St. Maarten. My parents had already moved to the island by then. Not too long after arriving on the island, I was enrolled at Oranje School. I loved it there. I enjoyed all the activities the teachers organised for the students, like book week, drawing lessons on the beach, Friday hikes over the island. After completing primary school, I went on to Milton Peters College (MPC) where I did VWO. I enjoyed my high school years very much.

Unlike in Holland, I saw most of my close friends in school. Graduating from MPC made me sad and happy at the same time. Sad because I knew that after graduation I would be leaving the island and my family behind; happy because I was starting a new, independent life somewhere else. The last summer on the island was one of my best summers; I spent it mostly with friends and family and explored the island's beauty, which I had never done in the 14 years I had lived there. I got more appreciation for the island then.

Living in Holland has its advantages and disadvantages. I like the fact that I can easily travel and visit places in Europe. I don't like the fact that it's so far away from home. Living and going to school in Holland, I have obtained my Bachelor's degree in psychology and I'm working towards my Master's degree. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do after completing my studies, but I do know that one of the first things I will be doing is going back to St. Maarten.

What St. Maarten district are you from?

I lived in Philipsburg.

Where did you go to school on St. Maarten?

I went to Oranje School and Milton Peters College.

What is your favourite St. Maarten memory?

It's hard to answer this question by mentioning one favourite memory, since I have so many. Most of my good memories of St. Maarten are those that were made with friends and family. As a kid, my brother, cousins and I would usually get mashed potato and some type of meat or egg to eat for dinner. We would always eat it in the living room while watching television. I guess one day we got tired of the mashed potatoes and started playing with our food. We started throwing the mashed potato up in the air, until one lump got stuck to the living room ceiling. Of course, kids don't think of consequences, so what do the rest of us do? We all started grabbing handfuls of mash potato and throwing them up at the ceiling. The next day, my dad woke up and walked into the living room, having no idea of what had happened the night before. All of a sudden, something fell on his head – Yeah, mashed potato! When we saw that, we all ran out of the house before my dad could react. I have never laughed so much! Up to this day, I still laugh about it.

What was your biggest surprise when you left the island?

When you live in St. Maarten, you can't wait to leave it. My biggest surprise was how much I couldn't wait to return to the island right after I had left it. I also miss the island lifestyle. With lifestyle, I mean the food, the feeling of relaxation and being able to escape to the beaches.

What are your accomplishments?

Getting my Bachelor's degree in Psychology.

What are your goals?

My goals are to finish my current study and to hopefully travel and explore the rest of the world.

What makes you special?

That's a very interesting question. I suppose there are many things that make a person special. I guess what makes me special is the way I care for my siblings. Even though I don't say it, they know I love them. You could say that I show them tough love. My friends also make me special. I have very few true friends but many acquaintances. These few loved ones have touched my life in some way. In short, my family and friends make me special.

Where do you get your drive?

I get my drive from my parents who always want me to do my best.

How long have you been gone?

I have been gone for about four years now.

Do you have any advice for the young people of St. Maarten?

If you want to achieve something, you have to actively work for it. Don't let obstacles get in the way of what you want. In the end, overcoming those obstacles will be worth it.

Are you planning to return to St. Maarten in the future?

I will always return to visit my family. Right now, I don't know if I'll return to live there. It depends on how the island progresses and what jo