Antoune McFarlane looking forward to giving back to parents
Published:Monday | August 21, 2023 | 12:08 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
Antoune McFarlane, bursary recipient in the Burger King National Scholarship Programme is set on breaking the generational curse of poverty which has overtaken his family.
In an interview immediately after collecting his bursary at the Burger King National Scholarship Awards Ceremony on Thursday, McFarlane told The Gleaner that he is pushing for that goal because his daily inspiration has always been, from a tender age, to make his family proud, especially his parents, shopkeeper Charmaine Smith and carpenter Barrington McFarlane.
“I’ve been intrinsically motivated from a tender age to break the curse of poverty. I grew with my needs, but I’d like to reward my parents and my family for making sacrifices to put me where I am today, so I’d like to give back to them,” McFarlane, who hails from Top Hill in Clarendon, said before adding, “Therefore, I’d like to be economically stable in the future.”
Although with a stern appearance, the 19-year-old Glenmuir High School graduate said he was very elated when his name was called for a bursary from Burger King.
“I have a high level of gratitude. I really appreciate this award today,” he said.
Wants to fight cancer
In a matter of days, McFarlane will start the journey to acquiring his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, and it is one he is looking forward to completing.
McFarlane told The Gleaner that he chose engineering because he has always been fascinated with the career field from a young age, especially biomedical engineering.
“I was fascinated with it since primary school, but since I started high school, it gave me more closure that I wanted to become an engineer,” McFarlane, who attended Hayes Primary and Junior High School, said.
“I’d like to implement the improved technology/advancing technology with the medical system in today’s society,” he said.
He specifically wants to help advance technology for the treatment of cancer patients in Jamaica.
McFarlane has 11 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects with distinctions in biology, chemistry, physics, social studies, Principles of Business, History, Information Technology and English, but received grades two in mathematics and Spanish.
In the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, he pursued units one and two in biology, Chemistry and physics, where he received grade one in all three, and a grade two in Caribbean studies.
When McFarlane completes his degree, he hopes to get his foot in an engineering sector of Jamaica, and somehow go overseas after, with the hope of making an impact in a First-World country.
Financial challenges
Like the average student, McFarlane said he faced numerous financial challenges during his childhood; however, he never allowed those to deter him, as his mother always has his back.
“My mother has always put education first. She’s fascinated with education, therefore, she would give her last to ensure that I got all of my educational needs done,” he said.
For 2023, Burger King awarded $9 million in total to their scholarship and bursary recipients.
According to Nadia Kiffin Green, head of sales and marketing, Restaurant Associates Limited, operators of Burger King in Jamaica, the Burger King National Scholarship Programme has made pursuit of academic studies a possibility for Jamaican students for over 20 years.
“Every year, Burger King endeavours to provide at least 20 students with scholarships and bursaries so they may equip themselves with the necessities to achieve a better academic standing. This year, the brightest under the sun were awarded 28 primary, secondary and tertiary scholarships and bursaries totalling over $9 million in commitment to our BK scholars over a five-year period,” she said.