Founder and CEO of AIM Online Academy, Nicole McLaren-Campbell is one “proud mom”. That’s how she described her feelings after members of her Class of 2019 graduated recently from several prestigious universities, including Ivy League schools, across the United States.

“My heart burst, I am in awe of them,” McLaren-Campbell told OBSERVER ONLINE. “These kids, they blow me away, I mean, they just embraced the experience and they go after things and they just apply themselves with energy and they just have given so much to the communities.”

The students are Sydnae Taylor, 22, who graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University; Athena Pagon, 22, who graduated from the Columbia University; Monique Brown, 23, who graduated from the Lafayette College, and Jordan Theoc, 22, who graduated from the University of Georgia.

“They were not just graduating. They were [getting] summa cum laude and Dean’s List and all these things. They are graduating with senior level achievements for community engagement and achievements and it just blows me away. I feel very blessed and privileged to have played a role in their journey. I know what it is like to be a proud mom, because I have kids, so I feel like how a proud coach or teacher would feel and it feels a bit like how a proud mom would feel,” McLaren-Campbell gushed.

Founded by McLaren Campbell in 2010, AIM has placed scores of Jamaican students at top universities in the United States since its inception. McLaren Campbell, herself a graduate of Princeton University, got the idea of starting AIM when she began receiving an overwhelming demand from students for scholastic advice when choosing overseas colleges.

Taylor explained that McLaren-Campbell and other advisers at AIM suggested that she apply to Princeton through its early action programme.

“Their advice and expertise shaped my ability to imagine my ideal college career and choose the best option for my future. I am greatly indebted to (instructor) Stephanie especially because she challenged me to think deeply about my application and my essays,” Taylor said.

Taylor, who graduated with a degree in anthropology with a medical focus and a minor in global health and policy, explained that she attended AIM during lower and upper sixth form, from 2018 to 2019.

“I took various classes to prepare myself for the ACT [American College Test] and SAT [Scholastic Assessment Test] subject. I had meetings with advisors, who played a crucial role in helping me to curate my college list and prepare my essays,” she said.

She went on to say that while studying at Princeton, she “greatly enjoyed” her time.

“My experience allowed me to pursue my personal and professional passions whilst being supported by incredible faculty. I have confidence in my ability to succeed in my future career as a public health expert and I have learnt the value of mentorship,” Taylor said.

Now that she has graduated, Taylor revealed that while she is nervous, she is still excited and looking forward to entering the “next leg of my studies.”

“I was recently awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue postgraduate study and research at the University of Cambridge in England. I will be obtaining a Master’s degree in Health Medicine and Society, focusing on Maternal Health and birthing experiences in low-resourced settings. I then intend to obtain my PhD in a public health-related field and pursue a career in global health in the Caribbean,” she said.

In the meantime, Theoc, whose major was finance and mathematics, said AIM’s SAT Prep provided great structure and assistance for studying for his test.

“I began attending AIM Online Academy in the summer after I completed Lower Sixth Form. Their college prep programme also provided great guidance and a sense of security since I decided to apply to college abroad later than most students,” Theoc said.

Now that he has graduated, Theoc disclosed that his time at the University of Georgia has been a great learning experience for him, “inside and outside of the classroom.”

“I was able to meet and create memories with so many brilliant people, travel to different countries and focus on my own personal development,” he said.

Looking to the future, Theoc said, “I feel excited and ready to continue my life in the workforce. I’ve always excelled at school but I’m ready to make meaningful contributions to society outside of the academic realm. I began working in management consulting in September and aim to ultimately pursue entrepreneurship and invest in Jamaica in the future.

Pagon, who graduated with a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in dance, also said she found her experience at AIM to be pleasant and extremely helpful in preparing her for the US college system, which she was not familiar with.

She added that she felt “well-matched” at Columbia University.

“I can’t imagine myself anywhere else really,” Pagon told OBSERVER ONLINE.

“Within Engineering, and especially Biomedical Engineering, I found a team-work driven collective, everyone was so collaborative and we all helped each other out and it was so welcoming and friendly. And that just made learning even more fun!” Pagon said before revealing that she was also a recipient of a leadership and excellence award in community building and the Thomas “Pop” Harrington Medal.

Speaking on the importance of education, she said, “We need education to understand the world around us- scientifically, socially, artistically- but we also need it so we can learn how to gather information, discern facts, and make decisions both logically and empathetically with the betterment of one another in mind.”

Meanwhile, Brown, who now has a degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics with a concentration in financial math, said her experience at AIM “was great”.

“Everyone I worked with on my college application journey were really helpful throughout the process and all excellent at their jobs. The course was extremely detailed in the objectives for each week and all the supplementary material was fully comprehensive for SAT prep,” Brown said.

She added that studying at Lafayette College was “overall good.”

“Of course a lot was altered due to COVID, so my first full year of Lafayette was my senior year. However, I did make great memories and was able to create the college experience I wanted through my involvement in clubs like NIA: Women of Purpose, Salsa, Hispanic Finance Association and the International Students Association. I met wonderful people, especially those in administration, who made Lafayette a place that I will fondly remember,” Brown stated.

Speaking about her educational institution, McLaren-Campbell said it is critical to invest in the next generation’s education.

AIM also comprises the AIM Higher Foundation, which serves to identify, develop and empower promising students from low-income families.

“The work we do through the AIM High Foundation is key because as one of our foundation recipient pointed out, education is the tool that can be used to change an entire generation and we see this in the 13 years with the work we’ve done with our students that they have gone on to graduate and perform at a high level globally and it’s allowed them to open opportunities for their family members in Jamaica. It’s a real tool for social transformation and for me I think that’s exciting,” McLaren Campbell said.