Monday, September 25, 2023

Cardinal Watch: Wisdom inspires family, plans to give backĀ 

Senior biomedical science major Jahfarie Wisdom will be a first generation graduate working hard to set an example for his younger siblings and cousins back home in Kingston Jamaica.

ā€œEveryones looking up to me,ā€ Wisdom said. ā€œNow all my cousins and my sister want to go to Plattsburgh.ā€

Wisdom said he had a difficult time adapting to the environment at SUNY Plattsburgh at first. The weather was a big change as was the American school system.

ā€œWhen I first came here, I cried for like three weeks straight because I was like, ā€˜I want to go home, I miss my family,ā€™ā€ Wisdom said. ā€œBut I had the help of my professors and my roommate, and I made friends here so everything was smooth sailing afterward.ā€

Biology Lecturer Megan Valentine has had Wisdom as a student for over two years and is one of the people who helped him adjust. .

ā€œAs a student, he takes his work very seriously and is very persistent to make sure that he understands the material.He is a very good communicator,ā€ Valentine said. ā€œHe’s big on family, big on friends, he’s supportive, works well independently, works well with others.ā€

His 17-year-old sister and 10-year-old brother are his biggest inspirations.

ā€œI just think ā€˜OK they’re going to follow in my footsteps, so I need to lead the way for them,ā€™ā€ Wisdom said ā€œSo if I make a mistake I can say okay this is where I went wrong I don’t want you to make this mistake, I want your life to be better.’ They are my biggest support group.ā€

Wisdom grew up watching ā€˜A Baby Story’, A TLC show that follows couples through their final weeks of pregnancy and delivery, with his mother. Wisdom said his mother planted the thought in his idea that he would become a surgeon.

ā€œAt first I wanted to be an obstetrician, and then I went to neuro and now I’m thinking cardiothoracic.

He was recently accepted to his dream medical school, American University of Antigua.

In addition to being a teaching assistant for three classes, being a part of the Plattsburgh State Gospel Choir and being a community advocate in Moffitt Hall, Wisdom interns at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, working with mental health patients.

Last year he had a patient named Betty who he worked with until she died.

ā€œIt was really touching, I got to meet her family, and we cried together,ā€ Wisdom said. ā€œThey were like, ā€˜Oh my god you met my mother, it was only a month, and my mother spilled all of the beans.’They were surprised at how much I knew about their family.ā€

In addition to becoming a surgeon, Wisdom plans to set up a scholarship fund at the primary and high schools he attended along with some of his friends who also went there.

ā€œOur school basically shaped us and made us who we are,ā€ Wisdom said.

Wisdom is also passionate about helping people diagnosed with HIV.

ā€œPeople I am close to were diagnosed with HIV, and it really changed my perspective on things,ā€ Wisdom said. ā€œI know there are a lot of organizations in Jamaica, so I’ve been thinking, OK how could I collaborate with them and spread awareness.ā€™ā€

Valentine said Wisdom is receptive to feedback and doesn’t get upset or hurt when a challenge arises.

ā€œHe is a dedicated, intelligent, motivated student who will go far in this world.ā€ Valentine said.

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