The Power of Purpose, Prayer and Perseverance

by Jessel Brizan | VALSAYN, Trinidad and Tobago | August 18, 2023

 

PREAMBLE

I decided to write this article in the hope that it would inspire, motivate and empower others to discover their purpose, pursue their dreams and attain their highest potential. Additionally, I hope that it serves as a vicarious yet cautionary tale of how to navigate and mitigate the challenges of this journey called life.

If you have previously read any of my articles, you would undoubtedly be familiar with my faith in and relationship with my Creator, God. I strongly believe all my ventures, be it entrepreneurship or education, to be divinely inspired, and not merely conceited pursuits for self-aggrandizement.

Again, whenever and wherever I reference God, I am referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And He is not Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, nor bears any semblance to any man-made religion. God did not instruct ‘Man’ to create religion. He instructed ‘Man’ to establish His kingdom, His church, on earth. ‘Man’ is the original word by which all of humanity—male and female—is divinely inspired. That said, God first, Jesus is Lord.

I don’t have a habit of soliciting reposts, but I implore you to share this article with anyone to whom you may deem it to be beneficial. Thank you.

Following an eight-year sojourn in America, I returned to Trinidad and Tobago in August 2004. Having surveyed the local fashion landscape, I made it my mission to help establish an ethical, globally competitive, sustainable, local fashion ecosystem.

In alignment with our government’s Vision 2020 Plan (2002-2007) in support of post-secondary and tertiary education, I developed a proposal - initially submitted to the Retraining Programme under the portfolio of the then Ministry of Science Technology and Tertiary Education (STTE) - to introduce education in computer-aided fashion design to help build the technological and technical design capacity of local stakeholders.

This led to my tenure with the University of Trinidad and Tobago where from its inception in 2008, I helped establish the Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design (CAFD) having developed and administered the curricula, lesson plans, examinations, and course materials for nine different courses encompassing the Diploma in Fashion Management, Diploma in Fashion Design, and Bachelor’s in Fashion Design programmes.

As part of my ongoing mission to contribute to the sustainable development of a local fashion industry, I set out to address three of its major challenges: 1. The trade is fragmented and lacks proper infrastructure and leadership; 2. A key barrier to trade is a lack of access to quality B2B and B2C local, regional and international markets; and 3. Stakeholders lack proper business training and development.

Subsequently, in the spirit of creativity, collaboration and community, I founded Blue Basin Department Stores Ltd. (Blue Basin) in 2012 to provide an ethical, sustainable, omnichannel retail fashion platform that connects Caribbean designers and artisans with customers globally.

Additionally, my goals were to provide an economic support tool to: mobilise the fashion community; promote entrepreneurship; provide a boost to, and foster the growth and development of small businesses; and assess the feasibility and sustainability of the concept.

Via a substantial investment of personal savings and a line of credit, I leased a small retail space strategically located at the Cruise Ship Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad. I successfully launched Blue Basin in August 2014 with an initial cadre of ten local designers and artisans setting a precedent as the first local retail concept devoted to Caribbean fashion and design.

As a premier local retailer for Caribbean lifestyle merchandise, Blue Basin provided a supportive ecosystem for a community of over thirty Caribbean brands, and a unique, immersive shopping experience and destination for customers.

As an entrepreneur, educator and fashion professional, I devoted myself to developing the fashion sector in Trinidad and Tobago. After more than eighteen years in fashion, I believe that I have not fully realised my potential, and that I have much more to contribute to the growth and development of local and Caribbean fashion.

Anyone who possesses a true awareness of purpose understands that we are all here to learn, grow and contribute. Even though I was helping others attain their personal and career goals, I was not evolving. I was growing discontent with my place of being, feeling stagnated, like I was looking through the same window day after day.

Disclaimer: I preface the following with the full and unequivocal understanding that wherever I am in my present place of being is as a result of the collective decisions of my past. And I assume full responsibility for the same.

For a myriad of reasons, in 2018 I walked away from teaching following a ten-year span at CAFD. The subsequent year, five years to the day, I officially closed the doors to Blue Basin on August 30, 2019, again for various causes.

My decisions have come at great personal and professional sacrifice. Needless to say, I was overcome with an inexplicable sense of loss – financial, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual.

Again, I found myself in the position of having to rebuild my life, and having to answer seemingly recurrent, rhetorical questions: Why do I keep repeating the same mistakes? What am I not getting? What lessons am I not learning? And of course, there followed the metaphorical ass-whopping I inflicted on my emotional and mental being. Ominously, this would all be compounded by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic the following year. But I digress.

Throughout my life’s journey, the one constant remains my relationship with my Creator, particularly during my depths of disappointment, discouragement and/or depression. And through prayer, He has never failed to provide a source of refuge as much as renewal. I have always held firm to the belief that you should never stop learning. And this was as opportune a time as ever to improve my knowledge and skills.

During this period, via a post a colleague shared on WhatsApp, I learned of Chevening, the UK government’s international programme that “offers fully funded scholarships and fellowships to individuals with ideas to create positive change.” Having perused their website, I recall feeling disappointed that I had not heard of Chevening before then. But my conscience swiftly reminded me that all things happen in God’s timing.

I welcomed this as divine inspiration to further my education. Additionally, I recognised the need to advance my personal and career development to enhance my capacity, credibility and expertise as a leader, educator and entrepreneur.

Despite the past deadline, I resigned myself to actively pursuing the application process and fulfilling the criteria in anticipation of the opening of the next cycle in 2020. Subsequently, I registered on their online application portal, and thus commenced my Chevening journey. I thoroughly searched the Chevening online database listing all the institutions that offered master’s degree programmes in fashion. I cross-examined my list with the ranking of top fashion schools in the UK and globally. From my shortlist, I commenced the application process for three well-accredited and -ranked programmes as stipulated.

Despite receiving successive unconditional offers from educational institutions, my first two attempts for Chevening’s 2021/22 and 2022/23 cohorts proved unsuccessful. I can vividly recall receiving the emails which read: “Dear Jessel, Further to your recent application for a Chevening Award, we regret to inform you that we will not be taking your application any further on this occasion.” And again, ushered in those feelings of disappointment.

In light of my recent misfortunes, a close, personal friend analogously transplanted my situation to the biblical ‘Exodus,’ and Moses and the Hebrews being in the wilderness. Her words resonated with me deeply. I found myself wandering in an emotional, mental and spiritual desert seeking a promised land filled with a sense of purpose.

Then, I remembered Psalm 46:10 (KJV): “Be still, and know that I am God.” I needed to still my being. And not unlike the Hebrews, I needed to absolve myself of any doubt, pessimism and negativity before I can enter the promised land. I removed myself from social media. I renewed my faith and focused on nurturing my relationship with my Creator. Disappointed yet undaunted, I decided to give it one last try and apply for the 2023/24 Chevening cohort.

In February 2023, I received the following via email: “Dear Jessel, We are pleased to inform you that your application for a Chevening Scholarship has been progressed to the next stage of the selection process. You have been selected by the British High Commission Port of Spain to attend an interview.”

Though elated, I made a conscious effort to contain my emotions. I understood that the interview process was only just another step in the application timeline, and not the final outcome. However, there remained hope.

Faith is believing in something without actually having seen its physical manifestation. And that faith has been the guiding light that has directed my path to this point. James 2:17 (KJV) says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Following a favourable interview at the British High Commission in March, I exited the compound and declared to myself: ‘God I have done the work, my fate (faith) is in your hands.’

In June, I received the following via email: “Dear Jessel, We are delighted to inform you that the selection panel was very impressed with your application and interview, and have conditionally selected you for a 2023/2024 Chevening Award.”

I have made a lot of sacrifices and endured several hardships in the past few years. Despite my past indiscretions and transgressions, my Creator has afforded me another chance at redemption. Chevening represents a new beginning, a new direction in my career and journey of life. After wandering in the wilderness for the past three years, I am hopeful that this opportunity leads me to the promised land.

I am proud to declare that come September, I will be matriculating at the University of Westminster (UoW) in pursuit of a Fashion Business Management MA. With over 175 years tradition, UoW is a top five UK fashion institution, and ranks in the top twenty best fashion schools globally (CEOWORLD Magazine). Its alumni boast several fashion luminaries including Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Paul Bailey, and Priya Ahluwalia and Steven Stokey-Daley, LVMH Prize 2020 and 2022 winners, respectively.

Given its geographical location in one of the world's foremost fashion and cultural capitals, UoW is well positioned to meet my desire for an immersive experience, and the opportunity to network and become acclimated to the people, places and culture that define the London and UK fashion community.

As much as redemptive, this marks a pivotal milestone in advancing my personal and career development. Chevening will place me in a formidable global community of leaders which will afford me the opportunity to develop linkages, build relationships, share knowledge, and add value to the Chevening community.

Upon completion of my masters and return from the UK, I plan to leverage my newly acquired knowledge, skills and the Chevening community in deference to the comparative advantage of a sustainable local fashion industry whose development is strategic in terms of diversification, economic growth, employment generation, poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic impact.

My overarching goal is to help establish an ethical, sustainable, globally-competitive, supportive fashion ecosystem with clearly defined selling seasons, market segments and design markets, highly-qualified personnel, and infrastructure rooted in transparency, creativity, collaboration, community, diversity, equality, inclusion, sustainability, innovation, research, and global connectivity.

There is need to build up stakeholder’s capacity to grow, develop and stimulate the fashion sector. I will accelerate my collaboration with my networks, particularly government, to create and develop policies, programmes, platforms, and infrastructure including the capacity-building of key personnel for its implementation.

According to Chevening, this cohort was particularly competitive fielding over 70,000 applicants globally. So, with a deep sense of gratitude, I am truly and humbly honoured to receive a Chevening Scholarship. I would like to extend my sincerest and eternal gratitude to Chevening and the British High Commission for bestowing me with this prestigious honour.

It would be negligent of me to ignore the invaluable insight and/or contribution of the following persons:

Charmaine Charles

I would like to expressly thank my former student and co-worker for sharing the URL address and introducing me to the Chevening scholarships.

Carol Mongo

Thank you for your feedback during the initial application process to the University of Westminster and Chevening.

Mr. Clayton Hillyer and Nigel Floyd

I owe a debt of gratitude to my American International College marketing professor Mr. Clayton Hillyer, and Nigel Floyd, a longtime friend, colleague and lawyer, who furnished me with educational and professional references, respectively.

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships – the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world.

Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. Every year, thousands of applicants from around the globe vie for the opportunity to earn the prestigious award which entitles scholars to one year of postgraduate study in the UK at a Chevening-eligible University of their choice.

Individuals interested in applying for a Chevening award can do so by visiting their website at www.chevening.org.

 
Knowledge, SpiritualityJessel BrizanChevening, Chosen for Chevening, I Am Chevening, My Chevening Journey, Jessel Brizan, Jessel Brizan Design GroupComment