From Learning for Life to the Ritz Carlton: Phillip Lovejoy reflects on his journey to success

2 years ago

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“If you decide that you want to climb a hill, no matter how nervous you are, you have to put that first foot forward. It may seem scary, but if you have the right people behind you, motivating you at every step, climbing the hill becomes a lot easier. That is what the Learning for Life programme was for many of us, that support pushing us from behind,” Phillip Lovejoy shared.

Offered through the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation, the Learning for Life (L4L) programme provides skills and capacity-building training in hospitality, retail, entrepreneurship, bartending, and cassava cultivation for unattached and vulnerable young adults between 18–35 years old.

L4L imparts technical and soft skills training as part of a holistic approach that seeks to empower participants into becoming productive citizens.

Lovejoy was part of the first cohort of L4L participants in the six-month programme in 2010. He fondly recalls his time in the L4L bartending programme, noting, “I would travel from my home in Maverley, Kingston to work and then to classes.

I would leave classes and head straight to work again at Medusa bar, where I would stay until closing at midnight. By the time I checked off and cleaned up, it was already about 2 AM. I could barely close my eyes to get some rest before waking up to do it all again. It was rough, but it all paid off in the end.”

Despite the challenges of balancing work and study, Lovejoy drew strength from those in his extended community who were always willing to offer encouraging words or even assist with homework assignments.

He shared how one of the programme bus drivers looked out for him and others in his programme, going as far as calling to ensure they all got to classes on time.

Twelve years later, Phillip has come a long way from where he started. He now resides in Atlanta, Georgia, serving as the Lead Bartender at the prestigious Ritz Carlton hotel.

He now uses the knowledge he gained in the L4L programme and his professional life to help others improve their lives in any way he can. He hopes to participate in the L4L programme to share his wealth of knowledge with current and future students.

Lovejoy reflected on the journey that landed him his coveted role as a leader in his field. He explained, “I got an opportunity to work with Carnival Cruises after graduating from the Learning for Life programme and which came about when Carnival Cruises approached Red Stripe to recruit directly from the L4L for jobs on the cruise ships.

I was one of 40 Learning for Life graduates who was successful in landing a job through this elite programme. That is when things started looking up for me. After doing that for a while, I got another opportunity to move to Houston, Texas, which is how I ended up living and working in the US.”

Looking back at all he was able to accomplish after graduating from L4L, Phillip remarked that more people should enroll into the training intervention.

“The programme gave a lot of us good opportunities, and many of us grasped them and made the most of it. I liked that Learning for Life wasn’t just about the skills training. People from various institutions spoke to us about self-control, drug awareness, safety and security, and even money management. It was a well-rounded course.

If you take those simple concepts and grow and build on them, you will be able to overcome challenges and build a better future; my life is a testimony to that.”

Sharing some words of wisdom for young adults looking for some direction in life like he once was, he added, “Focus on establishing yourself, being disciplined, flexible, and standing out. You have to go the extra mile to get the job. One hundred people may apply for a job, but the employers only want the top one per cent.”