For some people, certain things are bound to happen. It is not a matter of if, but when.

Playing for Jamaica at senior level netball is one such thing and the impending three-Test series against Barbados could provide that moment for Carlalee Tinglin.It is not the first time that she has been part of a senior Sunshine Girls squad, as she toured England with the Jamaica team that won the Vitality Series last year. However, she never graced the court.This is the only level Jamaica team on which Tinglin, a dominant centre court player from St James, has not got a piece of the action.From age 11, while attending Corinaldi Avenue Primary in Montego Bay, she has been in the national programme and has represented on all of Jamaica’s age-group teams — Under-13, Under-16 and Under-21.Besides winning trophies, she has been very outstanding, racking up wholesale Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours.“I was introduced to netball from I was about seven, eight, because my mommy loves netball, so I was introduced to it from very early,” said Tinglin.“I’ve been achieving great things. From Primary school, I’ve won everything, MVP, any little competition that I play in I’ve been the MVP,” she continued.Tinglin, now 19, has also earned MVP awards while representing Jamaica at Caribbean tournaments and in the Open League last year while representing UWI Pelicans, after switching from her original club, Waulgrovians.As she hails from MoBay, Tinglin has been making the long trek for years.“I’ve been coming here before I lived in Kingston. Sometimes I don’t like it, but I got used to it because I’d been doing it from such a tender age. But I had to do what I had to do,” she admitted, of travels to enhance talent and career in netball.“This is what I’ve always been dreaming of,” she said, of actual playing time as a senior Sunshine Girl.“At short notice I just joined the team so I’m a little nervous, but not too nervous. But I’m going out there to do my best.”The Barbados series, which runs from Friday, May 19 to Monday, May 22, seems ripe for Tinglin to make her mark.Highlighting her role, Tinglin said: “Not only defensively in the games, but goals win (matches), so you’ve to ensure that you take down the ball to the goal shooter so that your team can score. So you’ve to be on the ball, you’ve to be ready for anything.”She wants to add to her assets.“A little speed, I want a little more speed, a little more drive, that push.”Off court, she is pushing hard on a scholarship at the University of the West Indies (UWI), in pursuit of a degree in childhood education.“I see myself as a Sunshine Girl, but I want a strong career in teaching,” said Tinglin.“My mom is a teacher. I’m always a teacher and I always help her. I like to help kids, I like little school kids. I always look to help her with her school work and she allows me to take charge of the class and I like taking charge,” added Tinglin, as she looks to control her destiny.