Underserved youth overcomes struggles to find true calling

Growing up in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Granville Knight's childhood was marked by immense hardship.

He lived in a one-room, concrete structure with his mother and four siblings, relying on an outdoor bathroom. Violence and poverty were rampant in his community, but these challenges only fuelled his determination to succeed. From a young age, Knight felt like an outsider in his own community.

"I was always the odd one out," he said. "So I thought if I became great at something, I could change my life." His dream took root when he became captivated by Profile, the long-running television show that highlights the stories of successful Jamaicans, many of whom had humble beginnings like his own.

"I would watch Profile and think, 'One day, I want to be so successful that I can do anything,'" Knight recalled. "And that's when I started to believe that I could fulfil my dreams and be somebody." However, life's challenges almost overwhelmed him, and at age 11, Knight hit rock bottom and attempted to take his own life. But this became a turning point.

"I just started laughing and thought, 'What am I doing? This doesn't make sense. I can't kill myself,'" he said. "I grew up in church, so I knew suicide was wrong." Knight's faith in God then became the driving force behind his perseverance. At Crescent Primary School, he excelled academically, becoming the top boy for GSAT and earning a place at St Jago High School.

There, he did his best to excel even while dealing with the crime and violence around him. At just 15, a friend showed him his first gun. Despite this exposure to a dangerous lifestyle, Knight's faith kept him grounded.

"I was terrified of going down that path. I grew up in church, I saw the consequences of that life, and I knew I didn't want that for myself," he said.

But shortly before graduating from high school, Knight found himself at a crossroads. He wanted to continue his education, but lacked the resources and didn't know what to study. One day, as he walked home from church, he paused and leaned against a post outside the Jamaica Archives, tears streaming down his face. There, he asked, "Father God, weh mi a guh duh wid mi life?"

This moment of vulnerability marked another turning point in Knight's life. Determined to find a path forward, he prayed for guidance and said when he got home, whatever was on the TV would be his next step. That evening, the medical drama series House happened to be on and he took it as a sign to pursue medical school. However, despite his efforts, he was not accepted. Undeterred, he worked on a construction site, then as a correctional officer, and later as a medical orderly in a prison. He applied to medical school a second time, but was rejected again. Still, Knight did not give up.

Instead, he redirected his focus, applying to study pharmacology at the University of Technology, where he was accepted. While studying, he worked as a pharmacy technician, hoping it would eventually lead to medical school. Along the way, he met a financial adviser who recognised his potential and encouraged him to explore a career in finance. This advice would prove to be life-changing, and Knight found his true calling.

"When I became a financial adviser, I was able to draw from all the previous experiences and see how they shaped who I am today," Knight said. Today, he is an advocate for young men facing similar struggles, encouraging them to trust in God's guidance and keep their faith alive.

"Like Joseph [from the Bible], each young man must form a relationship with God and hold the vision that they were given by Him in their youth, and know that you just have to ride out the waves; stay true and maintain your character and your integrity," Knight said.