LeAnn Lewis says she’ll ‘never stop learning’ after graduating from Howard University

As bizarre as it may sound Lewis, who was 15 years old at the time, had secured passes in seven CSEC subjects already, including mathematics and English – the latter attained in grade seven and the former in third form. But one of the criteria to graduate at Glenmuir High School is that students must sit math and English in fifth form. It became a national discourse but the school didn’t ditch their archaic rule to please LeAnn.

Luckily for Lewis, after reading about her situation in the news, the American International School of Kingston (AISK) offered the little genius a full scholarship. Her excellent scholastic display saw her being placed on the High Honour Roll every semester, as well as copping the silver and golden US Presidential Awards for outstanding academic achievement every year spent at AISK. She blazed a superb trail by the time she was about to leave AISK, as she was inducted into the AISK National Honor Society which she served as president at one point before graduating with a full international Baccalaureate Diploma.

Her options to further her education at a US university were plentiful, but she eventually opted for Howard University, a historically black college situated in Washington DC.

At Howard University, Lewis delivered as expected, graduating last month with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Internships with Uber in San Francisco and later on in her final year at Google in Silicon Valley opened her eyes to the future of the world as it relates to science and technology.

From a tender age she was always fascinated by computers, she told Old Harbour News in an exclusive interview. 

“I took a look at the world we're living in and the one we're heading towards and saw that computers and technology are and will be a huge part of our lives in every aspect so I thought to myself, why not take an interest and what was clearly becoming a very prominent part of the world and make a career out of it,” said the 23-year-old.

While at Google on a tech exchange programme, Lewis aced her exam there with a 4.0 GPA, the highest mark attainable. The California-based company surely will have eyes on this Jamaican gem. Life in Silicon Valley was intriguing though, she noted, as she got the opportunity to understand the inner workings into other mega technological-advanced corporations there such as Paypal and YouTube.

“Being at one of the highest ranked tech companies, being able to learn from such talented engineers and exploring Silicon Valley was a dream made into reality,” Lewis said. “As for Uber, they only deepened that experience. I got full hands on experience working with a team of incredibly smart, talented and kind people on a project that actually would effect change in the company, if anything they both only served to solidify my resolve to find success in my field.”

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Her resolve in being successful in whatever she wants can be linked to the environment her parents created. Born and raised in a nuclear family in the Blackwood Gardens community of Old Harbour Bay, a southern coastal town of approximately 5,000 inhabitants, Lewis was well supported, as her mother operated a private home school programme for the less fortunate children. Being a part of such an environment, she developed an immense will and self-confidence that’s now second nature in her.

“My driving forces have always been The Divine, my parents who were always there for me, encouraging me throughout my journey and also myself,” she told Old Harbour News while acknowledging the AISK and Wayne McKenzie, president and CEO of West Kingston Power Partners, who have very supportive throughout her journey.

“I have never backed down from a challenge, in fact I quite like surpassing my own expectations and so that was also a driving force behind my success,” she added.

With such an attitude towards life, the shenanigans that unfolded at Glenmuir High came as a blessing in disguise, she said, contending “they did me a favour” before adding “I learned that everything happens for a reason, as the good book says, all things work together for good, for them that love the Lord and I can surely say good definitely came from it”.

The weird rule is still in place following checks by Old Harbour News.

But time spent at the AISK really prepared her for college life in the United States.

“Oh my gosh where do I even start,” she exclaimed when asked about the AISK. “Attending AISK was a dream. It helped me become a more well-rounded person, allowed me the opportunity to interact with people from different races, cultures and backgrounds thereby expanding my mind and thought process.

“The school is nothing short of excellent. As they said their core values are Excellence, Integrity, Respect and Empowerment and they stay true to that. From the Head of School to the teachers and everyone in between, they fostered an environment conducive to learning and building upon our strengths and empowering our weaknesses, giving us the tools we needed to not only be successful in college but in the world at large.”

To be an accomplished figure in the real world, Lewis also knows that one must be selfless, another quality trait she honed at home. Since age 12 she has been giving back to the Blackwood Gardens Miracle Learning Summer School which the family runs, teaching courses in both primary and secondary education.

“I've even contributed financially to aid some students with their back-to-school costs. And I for sure in the future will be contributing in that area because I know the challenges that some parents face during that time of year,” she said. 

Despite her unwavering commitment to secure a higher education, Lewis, who has been playing the guitar from a tender age, says she still find time to have fun and has even added the keyboard, ukulele and drums to her musical skill sets.

She said: “I play my instruments, watch TV, play videogames, I even dabble in a bit of story writing.”

She was coy about future plans, but was adamant that her desire to learn is a continuum that will forever be burning deep within.

“I would say my next step is starting my job and my new life as an adult, but one thing I know for certain is that I will never stop learning, whether that be about things pertaining to my work or simply creating new hobbies for myself,” she said.