Where Do Broken Hearts Go?

An Op-Ed By Antwon HF Walkin

For many young people, 2016 was a memorable year. Fetty Wap and Drake dominated the rap scene, while Vybz Kartel continued to shape the sound of the Caribbean from behind bars.

Antwon Walkin

It was also a time when many of us believed deeply that we were being invested in, that our futures mattered, and that opportunities would continue to grow alongside our ambitions.

Nearly a decade later, that commitment to education remains. The continued allocation of 3.7 million dollars toward scholarships and youth development has made a meaningful impact, opening doors for many Turks and Caicos Islanders and strengthening the foundation of our nation, but it is not enough.

There is much to appreciate in these efforts.

At the same time, as our population grows and the aspirations of our young people expand, so too does the demand for opportunity. More students are working hard, completing their studies, and setting their sights on tertiary education, both locally and abroad.

And this is something to be proud of.

Our young people are striving. They are preparing themselves not just for jobs, but for leadership, innovation, and global engagement.

The question, then, is not whether progress has been made, but how we can thoughtfully build on it.

Across the Caribbean, countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have demonstrated the long term value of expanding access to tertiary education. Their experiences show that when more citizens are empowered through higher learning, entire societies benefit, from stronger economies to more stable communities.

For small island states like the Turks and Caicos Islands, this investment is even more critical.

A high school diploma, while essential, is increasingly only the beginning, the barometer. Today’s global economy rewards advanced skills, specialized training, and international exposure. To fully participate and compete, our young people must be equipped beyond secondary education.

We are often encouraged to take full advantage of what is available—attend community college, use the resources provided, and stay focused on the right path. And to their credit, many young Turks and Caicos Islanders are doing exactly that. They are working hard, making sacrifices, and striving for more.

However, for some students, the journey does not end there. Many aspire to pursue tertiary education abroad or at institutions that require additional financial support. When scholarships are limited or unavailable, these students are often left at a difficult crossroads. This crossroads is where affections for narcotics, violence and quick money making opportunities are quietly supported.

This is where even a small step forward can make a meaningful difference.

An increase of just 300,000 dollars less that 10%, could potentially create as many as 10 additional fully funded opportunities each year.

Ten more students.

Ten more families uplifted.

Ten more future leaders given the chance to grow, return, and contribute.

It is a modest adjustment, but one with the potential for lasting national impact.

I share this perspective with deep gratitude.

I am fortunate to be among those who have benefited from scholarship support. That opportunity has significantly shaped my educational journey and allowed me to study at Howard University, where I have been exposed to new ideas, diverse perspectives, and opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

Experiences like these do more than educate, they transform.

They prepare individuals not only to succeed personally, but to contribute meaningfully to their country and to the wider world.

And this is what makes the case for continued investment so important.

Every additional opportunity created is not simply an expense, it is an investment in human potential. It is a step toward building a generation of Turks and Caicos Islanders who are equipped to lead, innovate, and represent our nation on a global stage.

This is how countries grow, not only through infrastructure and policy, but through people.

So perhaps the question is not simply where broken hearts go, but how we can ensure fewer are created in the first place.

How we can continue to expand opportunity in a way that is sustainable, thoughtful, and impactful.

A modest increase. A meaningful difference.

With continued commitment and careful expansion, we can ensure that more young people are able to pursue their ambitions, fulfill their potential, and ultimately give back to the country we all call home.

Because when we invest in our people, we invest in our future. And if we get this right, we will not just change individual lives.

We will shape a generation.

Antwon HF Walkin, NYP, AIAS, NOMAS, National Youth Parliamentarian, President and Founder of the Turks and Caicos Islands Society of Young Leaders.