The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

A PAGEANT queen’s love for children led her at the age of eighteen to dream about becoming an elementary school owner. Now at 27 years old, Shante Mcalpin, Miss Bahamas Galaxy 2013, is one step closer.

After starting with a summer camp, “Executive Learning Summer Camp” for children ages one to seven, Shante used her success to fast-track the opening of a preschool in 2009. Shante then became the owner of the “U Learn Daycare” centre.

“I always wanted to do this. My school was opened in Yamacraw Beach Estates in 2009 and we now have over 50 students. We have three classrooms, a reception area and an outdoor playground. I have four people working for me now and I am hoping to open a primary school later down,” said Shante.

Shante said her journey was not an easy one, as it was difficult to get a job after completing college. However in the end, Shante said it all worked in her favour.

“When I first came out of college completing my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education at Bahamas Baptist College, it was hard for me to get a job because people were hiring people with experience rather than education,” said Shante.

She also obtained her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education at the Omega College/St Thomas University.

“It was hard for me to get a job so I decided to create a job for myself. I started to research the steps in what I needed to do in opening a school. I started out with a black and white notebook and everything just came gradually. It took buying one chair at a time, turned into a big school and now I am highly recommended,” said Shante.

With her life centred around education, Shante said it is her hope for students to utilise their full potential and make a positive contribution in their society.

“With kids that small, you get to mold them. Dealing with early childhood education, it is much better because you get to lay a proper foundation for them before they get into higher grade levels,” said Shante.

Giving up her Miss Bahamas Galaxy crown this April, Shante said she is happy that it gave her the opportunity to be a role model for children, her platform in the pageant.

“2013 was a good year. I always felt that pageantry was something that I was interested in because it moulds young women and young girls to be more elegant, to be more poised and things like that. I initially thought it was all about the glamorous side of things but it was more about giving back to your community. I have been in touch with a lot of people and it gives you a mic, not a voice, because you should already have a voice before you enter,” said Shante.

She said one of her favourite activities serving as Miss Bahamas Galaxy was visiting places like the Nazareth Centre in Millennium Gardens, Bilney Lane Children’s Centre and the Ranfurly Home for Children.

“If you are looking for pageantry to just look pretty and be apart of a show, I would not recommend you to do it because it is not about that, it is about giving what you can to your community. Pageantry is just the tip of the iceberg. Even though it is glamorous, once you get that crown it is time to get your hands dirty. I think that if you want to be a role model for other girls, then that would be a good reason to enter,” said Shante.

Shante said her mother Pauline Mcalpin has been a strong supporter throughout it all.

“Right now she is battling with cancer and it is like nothing to her. It is just another stepping stone for her to say that she can be a testimony for someone else and I look up to her for that. She is my testimony because the things that I thought were important and serious in my life, they seem so small now because now I only ask for health and the ability to live another day to be a better person,” said Shante.

In April when she gives up her crown, Shante said she is going to put pageantry to rest. Nonetheless, she said she appreciated the journey and the new lessons she learned along the way.

“I am going to focus more on my career, open up the primary school that I want to, and maybe settle down and get married. I want to be a testimony to say that everything is not always lined up for what you would want it to be, sometimes it is just a point to wait for something better. Sometimes I thought why did I go to school if I can’t get a job, maybe I’m not pretty enough to get in pageantry because I always battled with a lack of self esteem. There was something inside that I had to search and find, because if you don’t believe that you are beautiful, no one can tell you. I just want to tell people to never give up because if a door closes, there is a reason why. Go to church, believe in God and be patient,” said Shante.