AT only twenty-two years old, Camele Alicia Kelly has learnt a valuable lesson in career planning that many others fail to grasp: to choose a career not based merely on her natural aptitude, but according to the value of the chosen occupation.

So while she likes computer programming, she has diversified her skills and education to take advantage of the opportunities she sees in the area of project management.

“I’m pursuing a diploma in project management as an upgrade and to align myself with the job (because) that’s where the money is too,” she tells the Sunday Observer.

‘The job’ is to manage a US$17-million athletics facility at Centennial College in Scarborough, Canada, where she is the student body president.

“I’m hoping to be the person who’s going to be in charge of all of that… and I’ve already started working on the proposal,” she said, adding that ground breaking for the centre will in June 2008.

As a teen at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon, she developed an interest in Information Technology and decided to become a computer programmer. To that end, she pursued a diploma in that area. Upon completing it, however, she realised that the business aspect of the IT sector held more immediate opportunites and would make her a lot of money.

“I started IT in Jamaica and I kinda liked it so I thought I would pursue it a little to see where it would go but at the end of the diploma in computer programming, I found I wanted to be in the business aspect.

Project management – the discipline of organising and managing resources (money and/or people) in such a way that the project is completed within the approved spending and time limits and according to the quality specifications – fetches an average of US$70,000 in North America.

Camele, who left Clarendon for Canada four years ago, will come home for an eight-day visit tomorrow, but it won’t be for pleasure. She’ll be part of a team from her college who will be participating in the EduVentures International College fair at the Hilton on October 30 and 31. After the fair, Centennial will extend its recruitment drive to different high schools across the island and while Camele welcomes the professional experience, she’s happy for the chance to soak up some sun, see her family and eat some real Jamaican food.

“Because I’m international and because I’m the student body president, they’ll basically be using me to brand the college,” she laughs, noting her excitement at the prospect.

As president of the student government, Camele sits on the school board and is involved in making decisions formed at the top of the organisation. Her job, a position she has held since May this year, involves supervising the student centre facilities on each of Centennial’s four campuses, hiring committees for the college, attending meetings and conferences, and “a lot of travelling”.

“Sometimes I regret coming, sometimes I don’t. When I look back at where I’m coming from and what I’ve accomplished…” she trails off. “For a 22-year-old, I think I’ve matured a lot. I’m in charge of four campuses, 11 full-time staff and 15 board members. I have to interview people with their Phds and all that fancy stuff. I look through their résumés and decide if they are right for the job.”

She is determined, however, not to let that little detail puff her up.

“I have to take the humble side because at the end of the day I’m still a student and I will be looking for a job soon so I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes,” said Camele.

In the meantime, she’s enjoying the other perks of her job, which she said pays very well. Her travelling expenses and phone bills are covered by the institution and in addition, she gets an allowance which goes towards rent and tuition and a monthly pay cheque.

Camele, who is the only child for her mother, and third for her father, recently moved from her father’s house where she lived since moving to North America.

“I’m kinda lonely here by myself, but I pretty much just dive into my work.”