The student selected to deliver the valedictorian address at this year’s University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus’ graduation exercises, Kadeem Charles, is a testament to the power of perseverance and inner strength that went a long way in his selection for the coveted role.
Charles, 23, graduated with First Class honours from the School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence during the graduation ceremony held at the St. John’s Pentecostal Church on Saturday afternoon.
In his address, Charles recalled that he had to overcome several challenges, included a period of self-doubt that almost led him to drop out of the university. However, he pulled himself together, rededicated himself to his studies and in the process focused his energies on positive pursuits. When he faced financial issues, it was his peers who helped him to find a job not only to enable him to continue his studies, but he is still in the job today. (He is fraud analysts at Yellow Social Interactive, a company in the gaming space.)
“This role not only supported my studies but showed me how the skills I gained here could be applied to real-world problems in a technology-driven, AI-powered age,” he stated.
On the subject of AI, Charles says it will fundamentally change people work, how business operation and affect creativity itself.
“From the automation of simple tasks to the rise of generative AI tools reshaping how we learn, create, and even protect our data, the world we are stepping into will demand not just technical skills, but wisdom and responsibility. Already, we see how AI is reshaping lives: it predicts hurricanes by analysing millions of weather data points faster than humans ever could, giving vulnerable communities precious hours to prepare,” he noted.
Additionally, the new graduate stated that AI is also being deployed in medicine where its impact is already being felt with improved patients’ care.
Charles noted too that AI comes with some challenges; from work disruption, data privacy and the over-reliance on machines.
“These are not just global issues – they are Caribbean issues too. And the way we combat them is with education, ethical leadership, and collaboration – ensuring that technology serves people, and not the other way around. As Pelicans, we are prepared to face these challenges with both tradition as our compass and innovation as our sail. Because while AI may shape our tools, it is our tradition – of resilience, of community, of creativity – that shape who we are,” he emphasised.
Despite this however, Charles is optimistic that both he and the hundreds of graduates have been prepared by the university to face the challenges ahead with confidence.
Charles is a resident of Bennett Street in Villa Area.
