evagabourel

Testimonial by Eva Gabourel: My Little “Success” Story
I LOVE Sacred Heart! ♥ ♥

Written March 22 2012
Hey Everyone!
I attended SHC from 1997 – 2001. My major was Business. I thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years at SHC! It was some of the best years of my life. Ever since I was in primary school I had no doubt that SHC was where I wanted to attend high school. My parents wanted that for me and I wanted that for me. SHC was and still is in my mind the most prestigious High School in Cayo.
It was quite an Academic Experience! I had some of the BEST teachers! I don’t want to miss anyone out but I’d be remiss if I didn’t call some names. Mrs. Melba Velasquez, Mrs. Karen Waight, Mrs. Debbie Martinez, Mr. Alfredo Mai, Mr. Ainsley Ferguson, Mrs. Lucy Salazar, Mrs. Bridgett O’Brien, Mrs. Bertha Morales, Mr. Julio Llinas, Mr. Dean Lewis, Mr. Leonard Mangar.
All of these remarkable individuals were instrumental and making sure my time at SHC was supreme. They are born teachers and their methods were such that it was FUN to learn. Their courses were well planned and well taught and they pushed you to be the best you could be. Their interest in each student was genuine and not just a job they were paid to do. They always inspired students to excel. This encouraged competition among students which in turn resulted in us students giving it our best and we had LOTS of intelligent students in my bunch.
I was the Valedictorian of my 2001 Graduating Class. A feat of which I am very proud! I lost my mother at the beginning of 3rd form and my little sister at the end of it. I didn’t know how I was ever going to get through it but the teachers above and all my other teachers were there to support me and make sure I did not drop off in my studies. I owe them a great deal in my success. I believed in me and they believed in me and I wanted the top honor so much that I fought for it by studying and making sure all the work I submitted was the best of me.
Apart from the great education, it is also at Sacred Heart College that I met some of my very best friends. We are still BFF’s to this day. We had the best of times at SHC. The campus was so spacious and conducive to great picnic lunches on the well kept lawns or on the available picnic tables. I remember some of the great food the cafeteria had at the time and I remember the very popular Johnny cakes with fried chicken!
In third form it was bittersweet to realize that pretty soon, in another year, I would be graduating and climbing up the education ladder but I would be losing my SHC Family. I’d have to run off to maybe St. John’s Junior College to pursue my Associate Degree because it was “the best”. I was dreading it because I did not fancy the idea of traveling to or staying in “scary” Belize City. I’ve always thought of Belize City that way. I wished I had another option. Then lo and behold Sacred Heart Junior College was born! This was exciting news for me. There was NO DOUBT in my mind that this was the Junior College I wanted to attend. What perfect timing.
Sacred Heart Junior College awarded me a full two-year scholarship in recognition of my “outstanding performance” at Sacred Heart High School. I majored in International Business. This too would be two of the best years of my life so far! The educational journey at Sacred Heart Junior College was excellent, innovative, creative and fun! I’m SURE that the knowledge I gained there was exceptional. It truly has shaped me to be the successful professional I am today. Again, I had the good fortune of being taught by some great lecturers. And again, I’d be remiss if I did not call some names. Mr. Fermin Magaña, Mr. Daniel Gutierez, Ms. Minerva Pinelo, Mr. Gertudez Velasquez, Ms Eufemia Usher, Mr. Les Johnstone.
SHJC prepares a student for the employment sector. Their internship program for second year students was extremely helpful in this preparation. SHJC gives students a strong background which one of the most pivotal factors for success. I consider myself to be a successful person who of course is still growing and improving and I know that my time at SHC and SHJC have much to do with this. Through SHJC I was offered a scholarship to Mexico which I declined because of personal reasons. I could have taken other opportunities as well however I was at a point where I felt I had to get a job and make some money first before I furthered my studies.
I did my internship at St. Ignatius Highschool (part time teaching and secretarial work) and I was offered a job when I graduated. I stayed there for only a short while as I got an offer from the Development Finance Corporation. I knew that there was much room for growth there. I worked at DFC for about 11 months and then I was offered a job by a businessman who I had met a few times at DFC. He told me that he was very impressed with my attitude and work ethic and that he could see that I would be a great asset for his private business. I worked at Maya Foods of Belize for a couple years and I had experience in secretarial work, sales and accounting. I developed a passion for accounting and I took an accounting post with Ionia Ltd (Blancaneaux Lodge – Turtle Inn – La Lancha). Finally, I got an even better offer with Belize Natural Energy as Fleet Coordinator. I have been working at BNE since 2007 and I am now Product Logistics Supervisor.
I am now at a point where I am ready to continue my studies and I only wish that Sacred Heart would over a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. It would be a no-brainer that this is where I would pursue my degree. Hint Hint! 😛