Having failed Spanish in high school, Cornelia Walters Jones didn’t seem a likely candidate for a scholarship to study in Mexico. But her love for the language propelled her past the barriers of the classroom to learn the language–effectively– though a variety of other sources

including self-study and the Venezuelan Institute’s twice-weekly free classes.

Hungry for change and determined to distinguish herself, she began to look beyond Jamaica for an opportunity to complement the the diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management that she earned from the University College of the Caribbean on graduating from the St Mary High School in 2000.

“Honestly, I got tired of Jamaica and I began to call around to see if I could get a scholarship. The embassies seemed like a good idea and two weeks before the deadline in March, 2005, I applied to the Mexican embassy for their bi-centennial scholarship…and got it,” she told the

Observer West.

That done, she packed in her job as a marketing manager at Jamvoyage, an events planning company, and resettled in Mexico’s Puebla State where she attended the Universidad Univer de Puebla.

Three years later she graduated at the top of her class with a 98 per cent average and a degree in International trade and Customs with a double award.

She also won a double award for Mexico’s National Evaluation Center for Higher Education (CENEVAL), which evaluates undergraduates.

Today, Walters Jones, who has worked as an Accounting Associate at Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) Jamaica and is the current Food Service Manager at the Chas E Ramson company, is ready to talk, literally, through the launch of the Spanish Chat Club, a company that will offer resources and classes to anyone who wants to learn the language effectively.

“We will operate from Montego Bay and Kingston at locations which will be announced, alomg with other details at the launch next Thursday,” she told the Observer West.

In the meantime she’s on the hunt for another scholarship, having been accepted to read for a Masters degree in Globalisation, Transition and Development at the University of Westminster in London.

With a husband– electrical engineer Kevin Jones–and an 18-month-old daughter, Emily, how will she do it all?

“Time Management,” she says laughing. It’s something you do to make everything works, and work well.”