Harvey challenges apprentices to become their “best selves”

Communications professional and former national apprentice Alique Harvey encouraged participants in the National Internship and Apprenticeship Programme (NIAP) to embrace opportunities, remain teachable and help create pathways for others.

Communications Professional and former NIAP Apprentice Alique Harvey

Harvey delivered the keynote address at NIAP’s fifth-cycle closing ceremony, held at Beaches Turks and Caicos on Tuesday, August 8.

Reflecting on his journey from a 25-year-old graduate searching for employment to becoming a full-time communications officer within the Ministry of Tourism, Harvey said he saw himself in the programme’s young participants.

“I look around this room and I see so many young and vibrant faces, and all I see is myself—a 25-year-old coming back from England to pursue a career in the Turks and Caicos,” he said.

After completing his master’s degree, Harvey initially believed he was ready for a permanent position rather than another apprenticeship. He gave himself six months to find work in the Turks and Caicos Islands and planned to return to the United Kingdom if an opportunity did not materialise.

Looking back, he said that outlook was mistaken.

“The apprenticeship turned out to be exactly what I needed,” Harvey said. “It became the foot in the door that so many people insisted did not exist.”

He praised NIAP for placing him in a position aligned with his interests instead of simply assigning him wherever a vacancy existed. As an apprentice within the Ministry of Tourism, Harvey was entrusted with meaningful responsibilities, including helping to plan conferences, contributing to national campaigns and working with experienced professionals across the tourism sector.

One of his major assignments was assisting with the 2023 State of the Tourism Industry Conference while he was still an apprentice.

“That was not luck. That was not coincidence. That was purpose meeting opportunity,” he said.

Harvey told the interns and apprentices that they may not always feel prepared when important opportunities arise. However, he said personal and professional growth often begins after a person accepts a challenge.

“Readiness does not always come before the opportunity,” he said. “Sometimes the opportunity comes first, and your growth follows. So when those moments present themselves, say yes.”

He encouraged participants to give their best effort, treat others with kindness and respect, remain open to learning and consistently show up ready to work. Those qualities, he said, can distinguish young professionals and open doors throughout their careers.

A Section of the audience at the event

Harvey also reminded the participants that professional success should extend beyond personal advancement.

“It’s not just about you,” he said. “It’s about using your gifts to make someone else’s path a little easier. It’s about encouraging your colleagues, lifting others as you climb and being a light wherever you’re placed.”

He thanked those who helped provide him with his initial opportunity, including Hon. Rachel Taylor and Ariel Neely, and congratulated NIAP on completing five cycles of career development through internships and apprenticeships in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Following his address, programme representatives challenged the participants to become ambassadors for NIAP by sharing their experiences and informing other young people about the opportunities available in both the public and private sectors.

Harvey concluded by urging the apprentices and interns to remain patient and trust the process as they pursue their careers and discover their purpose.

“Success is not measured by how many doors you walk through,” he said. “It is measured by how many doors you leave open for the person coming behind you.”