KINGSTON, Jamaica – From being a humble call centre agent to becoming the top acquisition manager at a business process outsourcing (BPO) company, Hockeem Campbell was the image of triumph as he walked across the stage at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, 2023 graduation ceremony, last week.

Graduating with a Master of Science degree in human resource development, Campbell said he was able to fund his academic career by working in the BPO sector.

“It has not been cheap and I funded every single dollar of my tuition out of pocket, from undergraduate to postgraduate, I did not take out a loan, I did not get any sponsorship, I did not get any grants. It was actually funded from my hard work, working in the BPO sector,” he said.

Campbell added, “I graduated in 2020 in the midst of COVID with a bachelor’s of science in human resource management…I started as a customer service agent and eventually before getting my first degree I transitioned into human resources, which is my major. To date I am now the top acquisition manager for a BPO company.”

Speaking on the difficulties he experienced working while attending school, he said, “My journey with UWI has been a rough one, to use the simplest of words. It has been one that has been filled with bittersweet moments from assignments, to examinations, to difficult lecturers. Especially since I worked while attending school, and traversing from Portmore to UWI on a daily basis from work, it has been a really hard journey.”

Nevertheless, he is encouraging those who wish to start their academic journey to take the first step.

Reacting to his completion of the programme, Campbell said he is grateful to those who supported him.

“I’m elated to have completed the programme and I’m looking forward to utilising the degree to the best of my abilities and I’m looking forward to furthering my academic success. I’m looking to get a PhD in the coming years…My support system has been one that I am very grateful for”.

Continuing, Campbell added that “My friends have been supporting me tremendously throughout this period, my friends are more like my family. My family as well, they have been there with me from undergrad to post grad and I’m very grateful that they were able to come here today to celebrate this wonderful milestone with me,” he said.

Raised by his grandparents in Cornwall Barracks, Portland, Hockeem is second of four children for his mother. According to him, having younger siblings has caused him to feel a sense of responsibility to pave the way for them.

“I am also the first university graduate in my family, the only person in my immediate family to this day who has held a university degree, so I’m grateful for that as well and I’m looking forward to setting the trend for those who actually come behind me. My little brother is actually in university, he’s in his second year doing a bachelor’s of science in marketing and finance, so he will be graduating next year as well, so that’s something I’m looking forward to,” Campbell shared.

At the same, Campbell’s mother, Icylind Pearce, was beaming with pride when she spoke with Observer Online.

“I feel very very proud to be honest me feel so proud sometime me not even know how to express it. To tell Hockeem is a very good son, any son any mother would a want. Me feel so good and overjoyed inside. Hockeem is very nice, very gentlemanly and he is very kind to me and him fight him way to the top,” the 51-year-old mother said.

One of Campbell’s closest friends, attorney-at-law Travis Ebanks was quick to express his joy at seeing him accomplish his academic goals.

“I would have known Hockeem for the past eight years now and it has been a journey. Had it not been for Hockeem I would not have been a practising attorney now, I would not have been where I’m at now. Hockeem has been that person who stood in the gap for me,” he said.

“Although I had a busy schedule, I had to make my way here because he has always been there. He is a supportive brother, through thick and thin, during the loss of my mother, he has always been there. I can put my head on the block for him, I swear. I’m really, really proud of him,” Ebanks said.