KINGSTON, Jamaica – American actress, Sundra Oakley, is encouraging Jamaican students pursuing careers in the creative industries to believe in themselves.

The actress, who was born in Queens, New York, USA, and has strong Jamaican roots, was the guest speaker at the third Jamaica Creative Career Expo.

The event was held recently at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

Oakley told the students to study their craft and not be discouraged by disappointments.

“Don’t be afraid of… what is out there. Learn about the different areas of your craft, of your field, and don’t underestimate the value of what you bring to this world as a creative. It’s the arts that people turn to and that’s why the arts have sustained for all these years. You just have to believe,” she said.

Oakley is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in French and Theatre.

She has acted and appeared as a dancer in numerous award-winning stage, film and television productions. These include ‘Code Black’, ‘All American’, ‘Being Mary Jane’, ‘Legends’ and ‘Sex in the City’.

Oakley also appeared in the recently released biopic, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’, which is based on the life of the late reggae singer from his rise to fame in the 1970s until his death in 1981.

The Expo, which was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through its Jamaica Creative Unit, targeted more than 1,000 high-school and tertiary students interested in pursuing studies or businesses in the creative industries as well as creative practitioners and entrepreneurs.

-JIS