Christall Ziva-Niara Byfield is very passionate about education; her conversations often surround the topic and she is always ready to speak of its importance.

Byfield informed the Jamaica Observer North East that it was by default that she started pursuing a career in education at the Mico University College. However, the young vibrant St Ann literacy specialist has no regrets as after enrolling in the programme at Mico, she realised education is her passion.

“I have always loved it,” Byfield said while indicating that with her mother being a teacher and a major influence in her life, she has always loved teaching, when led to studying at the Mico University College and the realisation of her destiny.

The 27-year-old young woman said she could have chosen any career path, but for her the teaching profession was her ‘karma’.

After four years in the classroom, Byfield is already seeing the fruits of her labour.

“There are students, when I got them them could hardly read. A couple years later these students have called to say they had passed CXCs or are in college,” Byfield said, acknowledging that seeing her students improve and excel are high points of her career.

“Knowing that you can mentor students, you can empower them; they come to you like clay and you can help them to be what they are destined to be,” she explained, while adding that she enjoys contributing to the growth and development of young people in Jamaica.

Byfield’s passion to see a transformed Jamaica through education goes beyond the classroom at the Ferncourt High School in St Ann where she now teaches. The young teacher also holds private sessions for students and adults.

Additionally, Byfield hosts an annual summer camp called the Ziva-Niara Academic Camp during the summer. This camp caters to all age groups and is focused on GSAT, CSEC, literacy and numeracy classes.

For Byfield, education is far more than earning a salary, it is the empowering of her country.

“One of the reasons I am passionate about education is, education can either make you or break you,” Byfield said, noting that education can make a huge difference in a person’s life. Similarly, she said a lack of education can significantly affect a person’s quality of life.

“My mother was not rich, but she was able to make life better for her children because she went to college,” she said while explaining that, “Once you have education, even if you go down, you have a chance to come back up. I want persons to understand it’s like lotto: if you don’t have a ticket, you don’t stand a chance. Education provides opportunities. It does not have to be a doctorate, but if you clean the floor, get certified in house-keeping, whatever level you can do — first degree, masters, doctorate — just try and get it. Be a step further than where your parents are; all children should aim to be more successful than their parents.”

Byfield has plans to contribute further to educating Jamaica’s young people. Within the next few years, she said, she hopes to start a skills’ training institution, particularly for males who have challenges with reading.

Included in her plans for the near future are: to host workforce solution training in an effort to empower workers in businesses in Jamaica, and to encourage them to be passionate about what they do.

“I also have a few books in my head,” Byfield said. “And of course I want to get married and have children.”