The Tribune

By Bianca Bethel-Sawyer

At age 26, Travina Thompson had succumbed to the temptations of the partying lifestyle. She had lost sight of her goals and found herself in a rut.

Ten years earlier, at 16, she had barely managed to graduate from CV Bethel High School.

“Right after I graduated high school I got a job with the hopes of maybe one day going to college, but I got very distracted living life,” Travina said. “After being sick and tired of just being sick and tired of the partying lifestyle, I decided to make a difference.”

She heard about the National Training Agency (NTA) through a friend who had graduated from their fifth cohort. The friend suggested Travina check it out for herself. And the rest is history. Today, Travina is a proud NTA graduate with awards and scholarships under her belt.

Travina, who participated in the Boating and Safety Maintenance programme, was among the 242 recent NTA cohort trainees who graduated on August 25, 2016.

The road so far has not been without challenges for Travina. She knows what it is to break both of her wrists. She also knows what it is to work during high school to support her family and to have to deal with a death of a parent at the young age of 19.

Nevertheless, Travina was able to refocus and do something positive with her life. She originally registered for NTA’s Allied Health programme before switching over to the Boating and Safety Maintenance programme.

“That was actually my second choice, because growing up I loved the water,” she said. “The Agency taught me that once you believe you can achieve. It enlightened me on what an employer wants from employees.”

Travina, who loves music, said the NTA transformed her life by giving her a second chance.

“The NTA staff and my Boating and Safety Maintenance instructor did not give up on me. They all encouraged me and believed in me and gave me another chance. I would recommend the NTA to anyone who needs a second chance in life. I wouldn’t have made it without the NTA,” she said.

Travina further praised the NTA for taking underprivileged Bahamian youths and helping them to learn a marketable skill to find a job.

“It gives you hands-on experience. From the beginning you are taught how to dress, present your resumé and how to have a good attitude on any job,” she said.

“Plus, during skills training you get the hands-on, real world training needed to succeed in your chosen programme.”

Additionally, because of the NTA, Travina has been afforded opportunities she otherwise may have never received. During her graduation ceremony, she received a Star Award for her outstanding performance in her programme, as well as the Executive Director Award, which is the highest award any trainee can achieve.

As a result of winning both awards, Travina was awarded a full scholarship to Synergy Bahamas to further her training in the course of her choice and a partial scholarship from her programme training provider, Gadites Maritime Technical Institute, for a first aid and boat captain’s licence course.

“Only by the divine favour of God I received those awards and scholarships,” a tearful Travina said. “I cannot go back to my old life. I plan to take advantage of both scholarships very soon before I secure a job.”

Now in its third year, the NTA offers free of charge well-developed 14-week programmes that are designed to enhance workplace readiness skills for 16- to 26-year-old Bahamians who want to increase their employability and gain real world job training skills.

“The NTA gave me much more than real world job training and a certificate. It gave me hope and future. Thank you NTA for transforming me and giving me another chance in life,” said Travina.