:: About Kitwana

Even life’s trials are seen as opportunities for 19-year old Kitwana Williams.
Born in Bermuda but living in Canada for some of her youth, Kitwana began her first year of university in New Brunswick, studying law and journalism at St. Thomas.
“It was my dream to go into law since I was 12,” she admitted. But: “My first year at university did not go as well as I had planned. “I went into homesick mode, there was a whole lot of other things,” she explained. “My grades weren't up to standard so I had to come back to Bermuda". Kitwana realised she had to make some quick decisions. “We decided on courses at the Bermuda College and moving on. It wasn’t fun.

“I realised I obviously don’t have the discipline to study law at the moment. I’m a very big procrastinator. “You need to have certain types and qualifications to be a lawyer, and at the moment I don’t have them. But you never know. I could go back. I haven’t ruled it out.”

Kitwana also began a part-time job working at the Front Desk of the Hamilton Princess when she arrived home in April – a decision which turned out to be a pivotal one in her life.
“It was initially a summer job,” she said. “But it peaked my interest in the hospitality and tourism industry.”

Putting the dreams of law on hold, Kitwana is now working on gaining credits at the Bermuda College to transfer to Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she plans to study hospitality management and tourism starting this September. “I have hopes to open up my own hotel in Guyana,” she said. “That’s where my father’s from. “I’d like to open up a hotel in the jungle, have it kind of secluded, serene, around waterfalls and lakes. Maybe guests could do nature walks and so on. It would be a total relaxation hotel.”
She hasn’t ruled out staying in Bermuda, she said, but if she were to do so, she would not be opening up her own hotel – yet.

“I would work to improve what we already have here without adding to the chaos,” she said. “They’re doing pretty good as it is – but entertainment is very limited. That discourages certain tourists. “But once they get the casinos, the theatres, and keep bringing new cruise ships and airlines into play, it’s going to be great.  “They’ve got the plan. They just haven’t moved on it. Once they do that, stop bickering among each other and get it done – it’ll be great.”

That being said, life in Bermuda in the off-season suits Kitwana. “I like it – I’m content with it. “Most people come back from university and they’re so ready and quick to go away again. I’m actually liking living without so many teenagers on the Island. It’s quiet, there’s not a whole lot of drama. It gives me a chance to get my thoughts together. “And without my friends here, I’ve been meeting a whole lot of new people. I can go anywhere and have fun, there could be two people on the dance floor and I’d still be having fun.” In fact, dancing is a huge part of her life. “I’ve been doing ballet for 17 ½ years, since I could walk.

“I do ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop. Now I’m doing salsa at Champions. That’s pretty much all I do, dance and meet people. “I’m also a music lover – music and dancing are my main passions. I’m content to stay home, turn off the lights and listen to music.”

Kitwana is philosophical about the changes she has made in her life. “You can’t help but be disappointed,” she said of her university experience. “But, after all, it is a life experience. You just need to get over that hump, and you can do that by taking it one step at a time.

“Sit down and think what it is you want to do. Set yourself goals, and plan strategies to achieve those goals, and once you do that you have to go from there, one day at a time.
“Do that, and in ten years you’ll be able to look back and tell your story.”