US Essay-winner wins grand prize trip, reconnects to J'can roots

Carleigh Franklin was beside herself when she was named the grand prize winner of a trip for two to Jamaica.

How she became so lucky wasn’t even a mystery. Franklin won the grand prize of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (UJAA) essay competition in 2023, while studying at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

She’d awoken just five minutes before the start of the virtual ceremony and joined with little expectation of winning the main prize.

‘The [announcer] went down the list and I didn’t hear my name. Then, they got to the top spot and my name was [revealed].’

Franklin, who recounts feeling shocked and surprised, also remembers looking to her mother sitting across from her at the dinner table, ‘and we started jumping.’

She was on a courtesy call at the JN Foundation with Shanna Kaye Wright Vaughn, lead, Youth & Education Programmes and Rose Miller, manager, Strategic Empowerment Programmes, at the bank's New Kingston office recently.

The 19-year-old disclosed that, while hesitant to enter the competition, she was eventually encouraged by her mother, Prudence Franklin.

‘It was my senior summer. I had just graduated; I had just written all my college essays,’ she recalled, explaining that she wanted the time to rest. 

‘My mom persuaded me to do one more essay. She had so much faith in my writing.’

Although she enjoys journalling and has often received commendations from her English teachers for her writing, entering an essay competition was the furthest thing from her mind.

‘I’ve never seen myself as a competitive writer,’ she said.

Franklin is now a freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and was accompanied by her mother and brother, Robert, on the trip to Jamaica.

Now in its 34th year, the annual UJAA High School Graduate Awards and Essay Competition is open to all US High School Seniors of Jamaican heritage.

The UJAA is a non-profit umbrella organisation for more than 60 alumni associations of Jamaican schools and other educational institutions.

The competition seeks to stimulate students to share their perspectives and personal experiences with different cultures.

The prize trip to Jamaica aims to provide an opportunity for the winner to gain deeper insights into Jamaican life and culture.

In her essay, titled The Best of Both Worlds, Franklin conveyed the diverse mix of her cultural background and how it influences her outlook on life.

‘The intersections of my distinct backgrounds have created my unique cultural identity and have awarded me with a metaphorical view of my life. If each of my cultural backgrounds could be represented by the circles of a Venn diagram, the best of both worlds would exist within the intersection; the collision of two distinct rich cultures intertwining to make me,’ she wrote.

‘The strong unwavering spirit of Jamaica is built upon a rich history and powerful leaders, and knowledge of this heritage is the greatest tool I possess for guiding my future for generations to come,’ she expressed.

As the first generation of African-Americans in her family, Franklin believes that her unique identity has allowed her and other Jamericans like her to continue bridging the cultural dissonance existing between black immigrants and African Americans.

The Jamaica National Group and by extension, the JN Foundation, which places a high premium on youth, education, and the diaspora, has been a supporter of the UJAA for many years, providing the winner with the opportunity to meet with members of the Jamaican team and to be exposed to the business sector in Jamaica.

JN Bank Strategic Empowerment Programmes Manager Rose Miller is proud of Franklin’s accomplishments.

‘She embodies the transformative power of education and cultural exchange. Her story reaffirms the importance of fostering connections within the Jamaican Diaspora and beyond. Carleigh's journey exemplifies the profound impact of these initiatives, showcasing how education and cultural exchange can truly transform lives,’ she related.

‘Through dedicated efforts in youth engagement, financial empowerment, and community development, we are committed to fostering positive change and facilitating opportunities for growth. We are inspired by Carleigh’s journey and remain steadfast in our mission to empower young minds to reach their fullest potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities.’

Although it was Carleigh’s sixth or seventh visit to the island, it was her first time visiting Kingston. She said she was thrilled to meet members of her maternal family for the first time who are living in Kingston. “My life has changed. I’ve met so many family members. It’s so very emotional for me.”

Carleigh is currently studying Biology to pursue a career in medicine and healthcare. She hopes to bring transformation to healthcare services in the United States.

“With my communication skills I hope to bridge the gap between the healthcare system and patients of all backgrounds,” she said.