:: About reginna

While some may say a 19-year-old is still wet behind the ears, Reginna Paynter is wise beyond her years. Well-spoken and courteous, the teenager reflects on how much she has grown as a person in recent years.

“When I first started high school, no one could tell me anything. I thought I knew it all and was very small-minded,” she admits.

But after she was sent to Gainesville, Georgia to complete her education, Reginna says things began to change for the better.

“Initially, I didn’t want to go, but being there really opened my eyes. Because I was on my own, I had no choice but to learn how to manage my own money. It made me more responsible,” she says.

And, she adds, with her school being all female, she was able to focus better on her studies. Not only did she graduate last year, she also successfully completed a few college classes.

“It was a good experience for me,” Reginna says when asked whether she regretted finishing high school in another country.

In September 2005, Reginna plans to attend either Florida International University or Florida Atlantic University to obtain a degree. She aspires to become an accountant.

Along with having an infectious personality, the teenager describes herself as being very outgoing and always willing to help someone in need.

“I am a good listener and a very reliable person,” she says.

If Reginna could be any fruit, she says she would be a strawberry, “because it’s nice and sweet and mixes with just about anything and still taste good.”

By the age of 30, this dynamic teen says she hopes to be married with a family and teaching accounting in either Bermuda or Florida. She aspires to own homes in both places as well.

When asked to reflect on the metamorphosis she has undergone, Reginna tells Black and Coke, “I think I’ve grown into a beautiful young woman and I feel I have matured a lot. Working in the banking industry has also brought out a lot of positive in me and often my customers commend me.”

Serious about remaining a positive influence to all who are near her, Reginna offers this advice to her peers: “Do not be small-minded. Don’t think that Bermuda is the only place in the world because there’s a lot more out there.

“Think before you act. If not you could end up in trouble.”