Miss Caribbean Culture Pageant- St. Croix: A’Jada Delana Burke

Autobiography

On November 3, 1992, I A’Jada Delana Burke was born to the parents of Jacqueline E. Thomas-Eastman and Alvin D. Burke Sr. I was born and raised on the island of St. Croix the last of six siblings collectively. Coming from a family of rich ethnicities and a strong adherence for family bond I was blessed to be embraced in such a unique and welcoming environment. I am proud to say that I am a true Virgin Islander. A Virgin Islander with a vision, love for life and surmountable inner strength.

Robert Hutchinson humbly states that “The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives”, an education I received in the Virgin Islands public school system. With education as my foundation, I take success very seriously. I am proud to say that I graduated with honors from the Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School in 2004 and amongst the top ten from the Elena Christian Junior High School in 2006. It was during my junior high years that I decided that I am determined to accomplish all my goals successfully. Consequently, I remained an honor roll student through the duration of my high school years which was spent at the prestigious St. Croix Central High School. As a student at the alma mater of my parents and siblings I found it necessary to be a voice for my fellow classmates so that I can continue to pave the way for the younger generation just as it was paved for me. It was then that I ran and was elected President of the Class of 2010. As a student with focus I understand the importance of setting and reaching attainable goals. Because of this I became one of 20 students to be accepted and admitted into the Pinnacle Career and Technical Educational Program at the St. Croix Career and Technical Center; a program tailored to fit the needs of students interested in engineering careers.

I am not one to toot my own horn but I have gained a few honors over the years. In 2006, I was recognized by the National American Honors Society for placing in the top 100 in academic scores. During the summer of 2006, I was awarded the opportunity to work for the Department of Justice in an apprenticeship-training program at the Delegate to Congress Doctor Donna Christian-Christensen office. In 2007, I won the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation: Laws of Life Essay Contest. This was due to my passion for expressive writing. This article entitled Father to Daughter, proudly hangs in the St. Croix Paternity and Child Support office as a reminder of the importance of parental involvement.

After graduating from high school in 2010, the Pinnacle Career and Technical Program offered me a two year scholarship to attend Texas State Technical College which I graciously and humbly accepted. I now hold a degree in Industrial Systems & Engineering. Currently I am a premed student attending school in the DMV.

No stranger to pageantry, I am the former Miss Urban Teenz 2007, Miss USVI Outstanding Teen 2009, and the reigning first runner up for Miss St.Croix 2012-2013. A former cast member of Graffiti Street Teen Talk Show (a local tv show), I am an advocate for young voices being heard, deeming myself a community activist on the island of St.Croix.

The loss of my brother has encouraged me to accomplish all my goals as well as to live life as each day is your last as you truly never know when you will leave this earth. However I’d rather live life with a purpose than to just simply exist. Because of this I am the proud founder of The Allen D. Burke Foundation. Through this foundation I will attempt to deter young males from taking a path of violence.

As a God fearing young woman, I live my life by reminding myself that the only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible. I am humbled to be blessed with the opportunity of representing my island at the 2013 Miss Caribbean Culture Queen pageant in St.Kitts and Nevis and even more grateful for a chance to meet other phenomenal young women.