By Ashley Brady
Three years ago, at age 24, as he was stepping out of university into the working world, Rushane Christie was beyond excited for what his degree in Logistics could offer him.
He had grown up being taught and prepared for traditional careers: lawyer, doctor, teacher and the like, were among the options he was told he could choose. Little did he know that a single experience would change his life.
“A simple person just trying to get by,” is how he describes himself. He grew up with his mom, stepdad, and brothers in Seaview Gardens, Kingston, and maintained a good relationship with his biological father.
His family was nowhere near wealthy and keeping up with the Joneses was not something they endorsed. They were a humble household, to say the least. Cristie recalls an encounter he had with his mother who, though she lacked much, had a heart that sought for him to thrive in life. As he was rushing out one day to school at Ascot High in Portmore, St. Catherine, she grabbed his hand and said, “Rush, I don’t have enough money to give you for lunch today.” Her lips were quivering, and he knew she was about to start crying because she was disappointed in herself. His heart was broken for his mother when she handed him just enough coins to cover his fare.
Her son’s captivating smile surprised her. “That’s okay, mom, I’ll wait until I get home to eat.” His reaction was so unexpected that it warmed her heart to see his response to hardship. That side of Rushane has remained solidly in place. Never one to complain much, he has honoured the efforts of his parents to provide him with a good education by being intentional about working hard at whatever challenge has come his way.
Rushane’s journey to Logistics was not a goal he always had. As a child, he imagined being a veterinarian or a solider, and up until high school, a lawyer which would have suited his sharp, analytical persona quite well. The career options he was introduced to early in life were traditional, but over time, his knowledge soon began to increase. Being a business student in grade ten at Ascot High, his class went on a field trip to Caribbean Maritime Institute (now Caribbean Maritime University – CMU).
“I did not have much interest in UWI (University of the West Indies) or UTECH (University of Technology),” he shared, as he confessed that he didn’t regret not applying to either one.
THE LIFE-BLOOD
His decision to pursue a Logistics degree began with that visit to CMU where he saw for the first time the engine of a ship. Some students were working on it and his little mind was baffled and mesmerized at its large size.
“Logistics is the lifeblood of every country,” the tour guide told them. “The wharf/dock is the heart, roads are the veins, and vehicles are the blood cells. If the roads are the veins and the veins aren’t working, the heart (wharf) will get a heart attack.” This line, made famous in his year group, underscores Christie’s belief in the importance of road fixtures and maintenance. “Fixing roads would really facilitate international trade,” he continued, “as large vehicles would have easier access to the wharves and therefore be more likely to engage in export and import activities.”
In Christie’s second year at CMU, it was mandatory for him to do a six-month course that included internship. He would spend three weekdays at school, while the other two were in an office. His lecturer, Mr. Mullings, was also encouraging, directing him to an industry chart that revealed over nine thousand career opportunities available with an internationally accredited degree in Logistics.
Rushane completed his studies at CMU and notes that despite the battles we face in life or have faced, our circumstances definitely do not define us; we should endeavour to press on.
His charge to all those pursuing higher education is this: “Not everyone’s timeline of success is the same. A house bought at age 40 is still a house, and a car bought at 50, is still a car. Remain focused on whatever it is that you seek to accomplish, because if you are distracted along the journey, you may miss out on the beauty of the opportunities that God offers along the way. You may feel at times as though you have been delayed by impediments to reach your goals, but often, what seems like an obstacle is not one, but an open door to achieving those things which are most important.”
