Our biggest obstacle can become our greatest motivation and many success stories have been written from those deemed ‘Not likely to succeed’. The Rock abounds with great men and women who in various industries, have given unwavering support to nation building. SO offers a glimpse of the past (a recollective report card, if you will)… those oft awkward formative or high school years when some educators doubted our efforts or simply couldn’t see past failing grades, lax attitudes and immaturity.

Althea Laing

When she announced her decision to become a model at the age of 16 her parents thought it was “foolishness”. She is fondly referred to as Jamaica’s ‘grandmother of modelling’. Althea Laing is Jamaica’s first supermodel — despite entering the industry at the age of 28 — a time when many models’ careers are drawing to a close. She is Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s first model to grace the cover of Essence magazine, and was once the face of many a glamorous editorial. Laing later left the glamorous runways to embrace another of her passions — teaching, which she happily states is “in her blood”. Despite being told that “there is no money in teaching”, she persevered, and is today the proud founder of the English Language Academy — a tutoring service located in Mandeville, Manchester, that caters to students from different schools in and around the parish. The academy teaches the subject at various levels ranging from GSAT to CAPE to SAT, and lives by this mantra – “Forget money, embrace your passion… if you love something, do it. The money will come eventually.”

Alvaro Casserly

“The revered A Wesley Powell, the late headmaster of Excelsior College encouraged independent thinking he taught us leadership skills and encouraged participation in community activities and extra-curricular activities.”

Alvaro Casserly is a business executive and the immediate Past President of United Way. Tomorrow, he will receive the Order of Distinction — in the rank of Commander (CD)

Arnold Foote

“I have never been told that I would never make it by any teacher, but I can remember my struggles at Jamaica College with Latin. I was very weak in that subject, and at that time I wanted to become an attorney – Latin would naturally be an integral part of achieving that dream. I would have a difficult time with my (Latin) teacher. I failed it at the Cambridge University exams because I was more interested in playing football and representing Jamaica at a young age, plus I didn’t study. But then I matured and soon realised that I had a great interest in marketing and advertising.”

Arnold Foote, the founder of Advertising and Marketing Limited, is a stalwart within the local advertising industry. He is also credited as one of the great minds within the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ) for which he served as president from 1968 to 1973; 1991 to 1996; and 2001 to 2002. He will tomorrow accept the Order of Jamaica for his service to Jamaica and internationally in the fields of advertising, sports and diplomacy.

Aubyn Hill

“There was one teacher at Top Hill Primary School, Mrs Reid — she was the headmistress and she thought I was bright, but mischievous. She worked with me and really prepared me to enter Munro College. Her husband, Mr Reid, who was the headmaster, had his doubts about me…I think Mrs Reid won out in the end!”

Aubyn Hill is the CEO of his own company, Corporate Strategies Ltd, which was contracted to handle the divestment of Jamaica’s sugar industry under the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) Holdings Limited. Hill is also former CEO of the National Commercial Bank and has lived in eight countries spanning the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and has conducted business in about 85 different countries. His academic qualifications include an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Captain Horace Burrell

“No teacher would have had anything negative to say about me, I have always been a positive person.”

Captain Horace Burrell is CEO of the Captain’s Bakery and Captain’s Aviation Service. Burrell is in his second term as president of the Jamaica Football Federation; during his first term, he had the distinction of leading the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica’s national football team, to the World Cup for the first time in 1998.

Constance White

“Well, there was Mr Gooden who basically was just flabbergasted at how bad I was at math…he was right! And then there’s someone like Mrs Gooden (no relation) who gave me extra lessons and was really patient with me.”

Constance White is a 15-year veteran of the fashion industry in New York, she has also served as executive fashion editor of Elle Magazine and has written for Essence Magazine. She is the author of the book StyleNoir and has served as fashion director for eBay.

Duane Bennett

“You can’t take CXC Literature, it doesn’t make any sense, you are going to fail… you don’t even have any books,” his teacher told him, and it all started with those negative comments. Duane Bennett went on to achieve one of the best grades in the country, and has since made it his duty to excel at every activity he was discouraged from. Later on at the Edna Manley College, his friends constantly advised him not to study jewellery design, saying, “You won’t be able to get a job afterwards and will have to end up teaching Art”. This too, motivated him to achieve greatness. Despite the negative advice Bennett decided on the degree programme and after graduating at the top of his class, he started his own business REVE with his sister Teasea Bennett. He even won the Red Bull Art of Can international competition last year with his iconic Raging Bull design, which is forever etched in our minds.

Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart

Who would have thought that the young lad who was pronounced ‘the most unlikely to succeed in life’ by the Campion Hall (now Campion College) school priest would become one of the nation’s most powerful men?

As a world-renowned entrepreneur, tourist industry pioneer and marketing genius, it is quite likely that Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart has long surpassed even his own expectations. He is the owner and chairman of dozens of companies in Jamaica, throughout the Caribbean, North America and even Great Britain, including the Jamaica Observer, Appliance Traders Limited, Sandals Resorts and the former Chairman of Air Jamaica. Little wonder that he has received many accolades for his work in various industries.

L’Antoinette Stines

“I went to Alpha Academy and I had a headmistress, Sister Bernadette, who encouraged and nurtured our talents. It wasn’t until I went to America, where I studied at the Clark’s Centre for the Performing Arts, where the audition panel would give me a difficult time because of my height.

“They would tell me about the Katherine Dunham technique and proceeded to tell me what was Caribbean when I was Caribbean…her moves were informed by Afro-Haitian dances which are completely different from Afro-Jamaican moves.”

L’Antoinette Stines is the founder of L’Acadco and has served as artistic director choreographer of film projects like Dancehall Queen and Baby Mother. She is the creator of Jamaican contemporary technique L’Antech, and served as Lead Choreographer and Movement Director for the Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony in 2007.

Lisa Hanna

“I wasn’t a perfect student, but I was well-rounded because I did lots of extra- and co-curricular activities. I don’t really have any standout moments where a teacher put me down or told me I wasn’t going to make it…however, I recall this one time during my high school years at Queen’s. I was the host of Rappin’ and in one broadcast I said ‘On a whole…’ and my teacher of the English language Mrs Bond, who was one of those who had been there forever, called me aside and said, ‘Let me tell you something, Lisa Hanna, there is no such phrase as on a whole, it’s on the whole.'”

Lisa Hanna won the Miss World title in 1993 and became a television broadcaster and talkshow host. Today she is the People’s National Party Member of Parliament for the constituency of South East St Ann. In addition to representing that constituency, she is the Opposition spokesperson for Information, Youth and Culture.

Marigold Harding

“When I was growing up I was called ‘Blossom’ and was pretty tall for my age group and my grandmother ‘Indie’ for fear that I might become self conscious of my height and slouch was constantly saying to me, ‘Walk tall, you are tall, throw your shoulders back, hold your head high and you will stand out above the others’. Then my aunt ‘Winnie’ (Winnifred Dale) of blessed memory also used to say to me, ‘Always shoot for the moon, if you fall you will fall on the stars’.

“My lifelong lesson on relationships and discrimination as taught by Grandma Indie: ‘It’s not everyone that you meet you will invite home; It is not everyone you invite home you will ask to stay for dinner; It is not everyone you ask to stay for dinner you will ask to spend the night.”

Marigold Harding is the recently appointed Custos of St Andrew; a Justice of the Peace, a celebrated horticulturalist and a master flower judge.

Mark Hart

“I was an average student in high school…I did what was required to pass my exams, but not with distinctions. It wasn’t until I went back to University at the age of 31, after being in business, that I took academics seriously and strove to get A’s. My wife Dr Candace Hart motivated me, and gave me private math lessons (laughs).”

Mark Hart serves as co-director of Caribbean Producers Jamaica, and is executive producer of RiseUp, a Jamaican documentary on the island’s underground music culture that is set for a cinema release later this month.

Melody Aarons

“Why would you want to leave teaching to go and do hairdressing? Are you crazy?” These were the sentiments of a number of Melody Aaron’s peers who thought her decision was a most ludicrous idea.

She was a trained artist of the Jamaica School of Arts and art teacher at Stella Maris Preparatory School at the time. She was also invited to join the staff of Shortwood Teachers’ College – an offer she turned down in pursuit of her dream of studying beauty culture. Still, she persevered and today she boasts a Master’s degree in Cosmetology — the highest level of certification in the field, and she also teaches beauty culture at the Master’s level, merging her two loves. She credits her artistic background for much of her success, claiming that her understanding of lines, colours and art in general has helped her to craft and design hairstyles differently, and is considered one of the island’s best hairstylists.

Michael Lee Chin

“Back in primary school my teachers told me I needed to brush up because I was very playful…I haven’t changed.”

Michael Lee Chin is the founder and chairman of the Portland Holdings Inc, he is also chairman of the National Commercial Bank and landed a coveted spot on the Forbes Billionaires List.

Norma Shirley

“I didn’t really have a teacher who didn’t encourage me. The only thing back then was that there was a big colour issue.

I went to boarding school, spending holidays with my grandmother. My grandmother was a big influence in my life. She always thought there was nobody quite like me (laughs). When I came back to Jamaica, it’s not that they put me down, they just didn’t know any better. They didn’t see someone who wanted to cook as anything special.”

Food & Wine has referred to Norma Shirley as ‘the Julia Child of the Caribbean’. Though trained in nursing, her love for the culinary arts led her back to Jamaica after having spent some years overseas. Feisty yet generous in spirit, she is a ‘gastronomical’ stalwart who has been celebrated in Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Fodor’s Guide, Vogue, Caribbean Travel and Life. A pioneer in the food industry, she has been an integral force in exposing to the world the flavours of the Caribbean and Jamaican cuisine in particular. She is without doubt one of the region’s most successful caterers and restaurateurs.

Patrice McHugh

“When I was starting out, there were people who said, ‘You can’t make money bartending!’ ‘How can you switch from Accounting to do bartending?’ I did hear that negativity.”

Today Patrice, along with her husband Robert, runs Bars to Go Group — a company dedicated to top-notch catering and bar service. In recent times, they’ve also added education to their cache, offering classes in mixology, watering services and more to boot!

Holding a Master’s degree in Mixology, Patrice is not only an expert mixer, but also an innovative entrepreneur. Established in 2005, her company Bars to Go (now Bars to Go Group) has grown to include Gourmet to Go, B2G Premium Beverage & Catering Solutions, Bars to Go Training Institute, Bars to Go Supplies and After-Party Cleaning Services. She is currently one of the most sought after mixologists and connoisseurs in event execution.

Paula Llewellyn

“I was an incredibly shy child, I was a nerd and a total bookworm, but when I moved on to St Hugh’s I discovered a love for talking…so naturally, I would get in a lot of trouble with the teachers for talking out of turn. I was a bit of a frustrated actress and I had an immense love for language, literature and writing…at one point I had wanted to become a librarian, but I eventually settled on law because I loved articulating and expressing myself. But I did not at all have the profile as child whom you could look at and say ‘she would become a public figure’.”

Paula Llewellyn is Jamaica’s first female Director of Public Prosecutions.

Racquel Jenkins Moss-Solomon

“An intradermal technician? What is that? Why would you give up being a computer analyst at Grace Kennedy to become a make-up artist?”

If Racquel Jenkins Moss-Solomon — the owner and operator of Permanent Cosmetic Studio & Boutique in Kingston had listened to the advice of her peers eight years ago, she would have been just another unhappy individual who stifled her dream. Today the proud intradermal technician has taken cosmetology to new heights in this country as she has worked alongside celebrated international make-up minds like Eve Pearl (and is the Caribbean’s sole distributor of Eve Pearl cosmetics), Scott Barnes and Sam Fine.

Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner

“To be honest, a lot of people have told me I would not make it as a professional football player, including the coach, but I didn’t give that negativity any energy because the Almighty controls my destiny. So, I didn’t waste my time on that, instead I just focused on the positives.

Ricardo ‘Bibi’ Gardner is the captain of the national football team, Reggae Boyz, and serves as midfielder for the English Premiership outfit Bolton Wanderes.

Sean Paul Henriques

“I’m sure people said that I couldn’t make it and I would hear that people said that behind my back. But no one that I can remember actually said it to my face.”

Since breaking out on the dancehall scene in the 90s, Sean Paul is the most successful ‘crossover’ artiste emerging from Jamaica. With a Grammy and an American Music Award under his belt, this multi-platinum-selling artiste rarely has any downtime given his hectic travel schedule, performing across the globe. As one of the most sought after acts, his cutting-edge image, lyrics and personality have kept him firmly in the spotlight and on the charts.

Storm Saulter

“The principal at Mannings didn’t like me and wanted to kick me out, but besides that my oppression from teachers wasn’t so much about their telling me I needed to do better, but rather their saying racially inappropriate things. They considered me a white Jamaican and brought that up at every opportunity. For example, if I was talking to another youth, they’d reprimand him and say, ‘You better study your book with your black self, Storm is alright.'”

Storm Saulter is co-founder of the New Caribbean Cinema Series and is the writer, executive director and producer of the island’s latest feature-length film Better Mus’ Come now playing in cinemas islandwide.

Tonoya Toyloy

“I liked school and didn’t give any trouble… my teachers were always very supportive. The only teacher that would get under my skin was the PE teacher, she wanted me to play sports and I wasn’t cut out for that.”

Tonoya Toyloy won the Miss Jamaica World title in 2004 and has recently graduated from the University of Florida with her PhD in pharmacology. She is currently the pharmacist at Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre in Kingston.

Usain Bolt

“Most people thought I was going to be a special athlete but no one came out and said anything to deter me from thinking I was going to be famous. Also, I have maintained very close relationships with all the schools I went to. That has kept me motivated to keep on doing well.”

Bolt is the fastest man in the world, clocking personal bests of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds in the 100 and 200 metre finals respectively. He’s also a three-time World and Olympic gold medallist, and holds the World record and Olympic record in the 100 and 200 metres. With one of the biggest athletics endorsement deals with Puma, Gatorade’s G series and local telecommunications giant Digicel, plus the letters OJ and CD following his name, it’s safe to say that this long and lean running machine definitely ‘gone ah lead’.

William Mahfood

“I was a little bit of a ‘rude boy’, always getting into trouble, getting called in to different offices — the Dean of Discipline, I was there on a regular basis. This was back in the late 70s, Miss Barrett was the Dean of Discipline at Campion College. While she was a harsh disciplinarian, she was always positive. Her actions were never unjustified. ‘If you’d only apply yourself, you’d do so much better.’ – I used to hear that a lot. She’d tell me, ‘You shouldn’t hang out with those guys; they’re a bad influence’.

“At the point when I realised that the fooling around and game-playing was not going to cut it in life, it was her influence that made me get ahead.”

William Mahfood today stands at the helm of one of the largest manufacturing and distribution companies in Jamaica — the Wisynco Group. Responsible for the modernising of the family business, William has made strides in his field, improving the efficiency and turnaround of the company, which is no easy feat, what with Jamaica’s competitive environment, and distributing some 3,000 different products for the international brands it represents.

Yasus Afari

“Yes, I have had my share of persons who tried to put I down on the basis of my RASTAFARI faith and livity, especially in relation to my career choice. From teachers who felt I have not measured up to their expectations to relatives who asked I if ‘poetry caan nyam!?’, to friends, former schoolmates and employees who wondered if I was going ‘crazy’ and my then girlfriend who thought I had ‘turned cruff’…they have all eaten their words.”

Today Yasus Afari is admired as a most extraordinary Jamaican. He is revered around the world as a dub poet, reggae artiste, philosopher, author and ‘edutainer’ with six albums and two books. He has also travelled the world, pioneering initiatives as a social engineer, is the recipient of several awards, and has written and performed on the GRAMMY-nominated album Black Uhuru Strongg (1995). Afari has also been featured on the cover of Billboard magazine, and presented in Parliaments in Jamaica, UK, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis and New Zealand. And has assisted the Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture in initiating the Culture Agency Programme — even helping Jamaica to develop its policy document on Culture in Education & Nation Building. Afari has also assisted the UK’s SACRE with its mandate of including RASTAFARI as one of the Faiths that is taught in schools in Birmingham & Wolverhampton.

And he is the first Jamaican and Rastafarian to be represented at the 118-year Parliament of the World’s Religions in Melbourne, Australia, in December 2009 where he is an ambassador.