KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dr Terri-Karelle Johnson delivered a powerful message of resilience and excellence at the launch of Access Financial Services’ (AFS) Marcus James Scholarship for Entrepreneurship on September 10 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

Known for her authenticity and storytelling, the international speaker and media personality urged scholarship recipients and students to rise above their circumstances and embrace values-driven success.

“It does not matter where you come from. Nobody owes you anything, but you have to dig down ten toes deeper than everybody else because you have more to lose. You cannot control the circumstances you are born into, but you can control your attitude and your approach,” she told the audience.

Johnson stressed that excellence must be a way of life rather than a response to reward.

“Excellence is not conditional. Whether you pay me a dollar or a million dollars, excellence is who I am. Excellence must be in your DNA. If you cannot honour the small rooms and the small opportunities, how can you expect to be trusted with bigger ones?” she said.

She also encouraged resilience in the face of life’s unpredictability. “Sometimes life will not work out the way you planned, and it does not mean that you are a failure. It means you must confront the circumstance, stay humble, stay trainable and remain open to the opportunities God places in front of you.”

The launch also celebrated the inaugural scholarship recipient, 19-year-old Alfred Fuller, a Business Administration student at the University of Technology, Jamaica. Raised in a single-parent household in Bog Walk, St Catherine, Fuller demonstrated entrepreneurial drive from as early as 13, selling sweets at school to support his family. Despite financial challenges, he has remained focused on his education and dreams of becoming a business leader.

Valued at $750,000 annually and renewable for up to three years, the Marcus James Scholarship supports Jamaican students pursuing entrepreneurship or business studies at local universities. Beyond funding, recipients also receive technical business development support through partnerships with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation and other organisations.

Founder and Executive Chairman Marcus James said the scholarship reflects the company’s long-term commitment to nation-building. “When I founded Access, my vision was not just to build a business, but to create opportunities for Jamaicans who needed a fair chance to achieve their dreams. This scholarship is deeply personal to me because I know what it means to start from limited resources and work toward something bigger. By investing in young people like Alfred, we are investing in Jamaica’s future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.”

Author and TEDx Speaker Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson (right) gives Alfred Fuller a congratulatory hug after the youngster won the inaugural Access Financial Services (AFS) Marcus James Scholarship for Entrepreneurship at a ceremony on Wednesday, September 10 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.

(L-R) Access Financial Services (AFS) Marcus James Scholarship for Entrepreneurship finalists Nastacia Wilson of Balaclava, St. Elizabeth (UTECH); Jessica Forbes of Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth (UWI Global Campus); AFS Founder and Executive Director Marcus James; 2025 Marcus James Scholarship Winner Alfred Fuller of Bog Walk, St. Catherine (UTECH); Drisanya Langley of Runaway Bay, St. Ann (NCU); and Rajay Cunningham of Green Island, Hanover (UWI).