MORE and more it has become the norm for young people to be focusing on a job/career while in school. This week TEENage took the time out to chill with the beautiful 18-year-old Candice Aisha McCalla, a university student and model.

TEENage: What are you studying at the University of Technology, and which year are you in?

Candice McCalla (CM): I’m in first year studying structural engineering.

TEENage: What do you want to become in the future?

CM: Eventually, I would like to be an architect.

TEENage: How long have you been modelling?

CM: I have been modelling since I was 13 years old, so that’s about six years now.

TEENage: How/Where did you start your modelling career?

CM: I started out modelling for Pulse. I entered the Caribbean Model Search and was placed 5th and I have been modelling since.

TEENage: Is that job paying your tuition?

CM: No, modelling is currently not paying my tuition, but I have it as a backup in case of anything.

TEENage: Where are some of the places you have been as a model?

CM: Well, other than Jamaica, I have modelled in New York.

TEENage: Has travel affected/inspired your desire to become an architect?

CM: No, travelling neither inspired nor affected my plan of becoming an architect. It has just being something I have had a liking for.

TEENage: How do you manage your time to be able to have a career has demanding and school which is equally demanding?

CM: I put school first, then when I have to work I do so, but I try my best not to let modelling affect my school work.

TEENage: How do your classmates and schoolmates treat/act towards you on campus?

CM: Luckily, I have friends that don’t treat me any differently. Some of my schoolmates after they find out they start calling me ‘mogella’, and some become extra friendly. But I haven’t really been treated any differently really, which I’m glad for.

TEENage: How do you react to your schoolmates on a day to day basis?

CM: I don’t mention modelling and my friends don’t bring it up, unless they have questions. I joke around and give trouble here and there.

TEENage: How do you go about choosing your friends?

CM: Well, I look at their personality, if they seem nice, if they are relatively easy to get along with and if we have anything in common.

TEENage: How has the experience been so far and what are your expectations for the rest of the years?

CM: Well, so far it has been a great experience, it’s fun and as with everything it has it’s good times and it’s not so good times. I hope it continues and gets better.

TEENage: What would you like to say to the other teens in Jamaica?

CM: Not everything that glitters is gold. Work hard for what you want and you will eventually get it with the help of God.