Past student of the Masters in International Trade Policy, Miss Simara Howell shares her experience:

It became a reality on the first Tuesday in March 2008, I was finally at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, and for me it was a dream come true. I felt proud; I had worked hard and hadsurvived the interview with the ‘feared’ Ambassadors McNish and Rattray.

The year 2008 must have been my lucky year, because soon after, I found out that I had received a scholarship from the Organization of American States (OAS) to pursue my Masters in International Trade Policy. I was elated, but then reality set in; what was I going to do. I had only been working at the Ministryfor about 3 months- study leave was not even in the picture. What was I to do, both meant the world to me; how was I to choose I thought to myself. I sought and received excellent advice from those within the Ministry. I resigned stating my intention of returning. I had only been at the Ministry for six (6) months then, but when it was time to leave, it was bitter sweet. I had grown attached.

In August, I packed my things and set out to Barbados to do my Masters. I spent eight (8) gruelling months in Barbados, spending all my days in the classroom. My days commenced at 8:30 am and usually ended 3 – 4 am the next day. Sleep became a leisure activity, only necessary when I had the time to pass. People fainted, some cried, and others got frustrated, but I managed to fight my way through. After all, in a programme as mine, I was not only representing myself but also my country. Often times I was referred to as “Miss Jamaica” so there was no room for quitting.

Despite sleep deprivation and often times no social life, at the end of the first semester, my hard work paid off. I was at the top of my class, straight A’s. This was just the first hurdle. The second semester went by quickly, and then it was May and time to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, the capital of international trade issues. I spent two (2) weeks in Geneva with my entire group, on a study tour organized by the UNCTAD Virtual Institute and UWI. It was awesome! Like a kid in a candy shop kind of feeling, I visited the United Nations, and several of its specialized agencies as well as the World Trade Organization (WTO).

At the end of the study tour, I started my internship at the Permanent Representative to the United Nations (PRUN), Geneva. Four (4) valuable months was spent with the Jamaican Mission in Geneva. The staff made me feel right at home. I was given the opportunity to attend all the major meetings in the WTO and participated, as a member of Jamaica’s delegation to the Second Global Aid for Trade Review. I was also a part of the delegation present, to see our Prime Minister address the ILO Plenary.

Time surely flies when you’re having fun; my time in Geneva came to an end in September. By September 11, I was home, I rejoined the Ministry on October 5 to start a new chapter in my quest to become a Jamaican diplomat.

Source: Taken from the JAFSA Newsletter - In the Service, Vol. 6, Issue 6, December 2009.