Jewels of the Virgin Isles is a feature series profiling Virgin Islanders in the diaspora who are excelling in their respective fields and/or positively representing the USVI abroad.
For many of us, life represents two sides of the same coin, and for St. Thomas native Kaiya S. Nash, her coin is one that was minted by life experiences that helped to carve out her path as a psychologist. Through a season of change that led to her family’s relocation from St. Thomas to the state of Maryland, Nash learned the qualities of resilience, fortitude and perseverance at an early age. However, in true Caribbean form, through her trials and triumphs, she has also embraced the philosophy that “rain don’t stop deh carnival!”
Nash is a go-getter, a mother of two on a mission to heal the minds of those broken by illness, circumstance and the strains of life; but she is also a lover of life, a travel enthusiast and an ambassador for the Caribbean wherever she goes.
Having had an early glimpse at the ill effects of not expressing emotions or feelings in a positive manner, Nash realized in her youth that she was intrigued by human behavior and development, and she learned to observe the dynamics that cause people to act the way they do.
That interest led her to study psychology at Bowie State University and recently earn her doctorate in counseling psychology from Argosy University, all while working full time, launching a new business, and enjoying her favorite pastime, carnival-hopping.
As the middle child, Kaiya didn’t deal with the struggles of being overlooked and ignored. Instead she was seen as the “glue or backbone” for everyone in her family, especially during their unexpected transition from the Virgin Islands during her junior high school years to the U.S. mainland. It was this unspoken responsibility, coupled with witnessing her mother’s tenacity, which taught her the importance of staying focused, setting goals and never quitting.
“My mother is my inspiration, as she is the reason we relocated to the U.S. mainland in 1990. She did it without a plan and as a single mother with three children,” Nash says.
In spite of, or because of, her need to adapt into an unfamiliar culture at an early age, Nash admits that she can be a bit of a chameleon. “Some people know me as a party girl, and I travel around the world to attend carnival and play ‘mas, but in the workplace, I am known as a serious, levelheaded professional,” she says with a smile.
In fact, throughout her doctoral studies, Nash “took school on the road” with her, making time for her online courses during the hours when her friends would be resting. However, she also budgeted her time and sacrificed some of the fetes for intense study sessions.
With the degree under her belt, Nash is now looking ahead at how she can use her education and experience to help others. At the moment she is embarking on a new venture to join a neuropsychology team that provides a holistic approach to rehabilitation for people with brain injuries. Additionally, regarding the territory, she says she would like to see increased attention on mental health services for Virgin Islands youth who are dealing with traumas at a much earlier age and acting out their aggression instead of communicating their pain, concerns or problems.
“If I could give back one thing to the Virgin Islands community, I would be a mental health advocate. In the Caribbean, therapy is still taboo and people need to be more okay with it. I’d like to see enhanced programs addressing bullying and helping children to deal with their identity,” she says.
Nash says she believes that everyone should have an outlet for the everyday pressures of life, and hers is participating in carnival and Caribbean events.
Having left the islands at age 12, Nash didn’t always have an appreciation for Virgin Islands culture and lifestyle until her adult years. Now she embraces her heritage fully and is an event promoter in the Washington, D.C., metro area where she resides, working with others to revive the Caribbean social scene in the region.
A Nugget for V.I. Youth: “Always stay positive and stay away from negativity.”
Little Known Fact: “I participate in as many carnivals as I can and I love soca music! I can’t stop that side of me. I’m a Carnivalian!"
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Loán Sewer is a marketing and tourism consultant and proud Virgin Islander who resides in Washington, D.C. She is also a founding member of the USVI Alliance Inc., an organization focused on reconnecting the Virgin Islands diaspora with the local community and host of the USVI Economic Development Summit on the U.S. mainland. Follow her on Twitter @LoTalksTourism or e-mail her at [email protected].