Geography was not my first choice at UWI due to my interest in Biology that stemmed from an earlier desire to enter a field in the medical sciences. Nevertheless, as fate would have it I enrolled in the course Geography with Social Sciences thinking the combination of subjects would afford me the best opportunities career wise on graduation. During that period in the 70’s teaching was a likely outcome of studying Geography and this would not have been too difficult for me as I already obtained a Teacher’s Certificate; but teaching was not my final career goal then.

Life as a Geography student was challenging, most of the lecturers could best be described as “serious” but approachable. Then there were those half courses like climatology and geomorphology that we considered to be more like full subjects, in their own right. This was not made any easier with the approaching end of term and end of year examinations as we could rule out getting any guide from the lecturers in the Geography Department. When that degree was earned, it was well earned, thanks to our lecturers like Dr. Vernon Mulchansigh, Dr. Allan Eyre, Dr. Vilma Bailey, Mrs. Eleanor Jones and the late Dr. Vincent George.

It was not always lectures though; there were the pre Geographic Information System (GIS) and Microsoft Office laboratory classes where we manually did calculations, prepared charts and draw maps. There were also the field trips, the most memorable of which was our travel to Montego Bay by train. That was my first and last train ride in Jamaica so I still cherish that experience.

There is no denying that Geography provides a solid platform for one who may wish to consider a career in the several related fields as I have experienced. While I have an interest in urban and regional planning, environmental planning and disaster management the potential fields also include Cartography, Climate Change Analyst, GIS Specialist, Hydrologist, Climatologist and Meteorologist.

As the Geography Department celebrates I too feel a sense of pride as one who has benefitted from an experience that changed my life forever. The course set me on a career path that has allowed me to contribute to national development by providing services from the private sector by assisting both public and private sector clients achieve their project objectives.

Beverline Brown Smith, Consultant