News

Growing up in Paul’s Avenue, an inner-city community in Kingstown, the capital of the eastern Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Yannick Bacchus learned at a very young age that success should not be determined by where a person comes from.

Today, that belief has taken him more than 9,800 miles (15,700 kilometres) to Taiwan, where he graduated from National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) with both a bachelor's and a master's degree.

Bacchus completed his master's degree in the International Master's Program of Agriculture with a 4.15 GPA, just one year after finishing his undergraduate studies in agribusiness.

However, before becoming a graduate in Taiwan, Bacchus’ journey began in a community that he says many people misunderstand.

Paul's Lot, as Bacchus’ community is also known, is often viewed negatively, but Bacchus says those perceptions do not represent the reality of the community he knows. For him, it was a place that helped shape his character, introduced him to new experiences, and contributed to the person he has become.

The community played a significant role in his development, from building friendships and learning life lessons to discovering his passion for football and becoming involved in the cultural tradition of building carnival costumes with the High Voltage and Nelson Bloc mas bands.

"I credit a lot of who I am today to Paul's Lot," Bacchus says. "It helped develop me into the person that I am."

His journey to academic success was not without challenges. After leaving St. Mary's Roman Catholic School, Bacchus did not achieve the required passing mark in the then Common Entrance Examination. He, however, secured a place at the Intermediate High School.

During his first year there, he placed first in his class and later transferred to Bishop's College Kingstown — located near Paul’s Avenue — where he consistently ranked among the top students.

His academic performance continued to improve, and he eventually became one of the school's top Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) performers, earning passes in nine subjects.

Bacchus later pursued an associate degree in agriculture at the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Community College Division of Technical and Vocational Education, where he emerged as the top performer in his programme.

He says his interest in agriculture had begun years earlier during his time at Bishop's College, where he was introduced to practical farming and animal husbandry.

"We had our own agricultural field, and this is where I got into the farming aspect of it, the animal production aspect of it. I fell in love with the field of agricultural science."

Before continuing his education overseas, Bacchus gained valuable professional experience. As part of his associate degree, he completed a mandatory two-month internship at the East Caribbean Group of Companies, working across multiple departments.

He later joined St. Vincent Brewery Ltd. (SVBL), where he spent more than three years, first as a logistics administrator before being promoted to safety technician.

It was during his time at SVBL that the possibility of studying in Taiwan became a reality.

Bacchus recalled that fellow Vincentian and Taiwan alumnus Adriel Francois encouraged him to pursue further studies.

"He saw my potential and my ability to move into higher positions, but he also told me the sad reality of the world is that if you don't have that piece of paper, if you don't have the qualification, people would always see past your potential because of that," Bacchus recalls.

The conversation became a turning point in his life. Through Francois, Bacchus learned about scholarship opportunities in Taiwan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF).

When Bacchus arrived in Taiwan in 2021 on a TaiwanICDF scholarship, he entered a completely new environment, but he was determined to make the most of the opportunity.

At NCHU, he had to plan his studies carefully to achieve his goal of completing both a bachelor's and master's degree. Unlike some universities that offer a 4+1 programme, the school did not have that option, so Bacchus created his own pathway.

"I completed my bachelor's credits in three years and used my fourth year to start doing some master's credits."

Those credits were later transferred toward his master's degree, allowing him to complete the programme in one year.

Throughout his studies, Bacchus maintained a high GPA, earning the TaiwanICDF Outstanding Academic Award and being recognised on numerous occasions as a top student in his programme.

Outside the classroom, he also represented NCHU's football team for five years as a striker (wearing number 9) while balancing training and academic responsibilities.

His connection to SVG remained central to his academic work. For his master's thesis, Bacchus researched youths' preferences toward sustainable agriculture in the country, a topic he said was driven by his desire to contribute to national development.

"It was something sitting on my chest," he says. "I didn't just watch it and talk about it. I actually carried out research."

His thesis defense earned a score of 92%.

However, success in Taiwan came with challenges. As the only Vincentian student at NCHU for five years, Bacchus had to adapt to life overseas largely on his own.

"I didn't have that guidance or support," he says. "I had to, basically, figure it out step by step along the way."

Although difficult, the experience strengthened his independence and resilience.

"It was rewarding to see that, being somewhere by yourself, having to figure it out, you could eventually get through all these obstacles."

Financial challenges also became part of his master's experience. Unlike his undergraduate studies, which were supported by the ICDF scholarship, Bacchus had to rely on a partial university scholarship and part-time work to support himself.

"I had to do two part-time jobs so I could accumulate enough finances to fund my rent and my lifestyle."

"All these challenges are what built me and built my mindset," he says. "They helped me strengthen my resilience and become the person that I am today. That's why this success is even sweeter."

For Bacchus, his achievements represent more than personal success. He hopes his journey can encourage young people, especially those from communities often affected by negative stereotypes, to believe that their circumstances do not determine their future.

Bacchus wants young people to recognise that there are positive paths available to them.

"I do this not just for myself, but to encourage youths, not only from my community but throughout Saint Vincent, to let them know that there are other ways," he says.

He believes education, sports, and entrepreneurship can all provide opportunities for young people.

"Education is always the key. Sports is the key. Coming up with a business idea is the key," Bacchus says. "I try to portray that persona to motivate youths, especially in the time that we are living in, where positive influence and positive role models are very few."

That same message shapes his approach to social media, where he uses his platforms to share positive content. "Most times, it's for a laugh or it's for motivation."

Bacchus encourages students considering studying abroad to remain authentic and committed to their goals. His personal philosophy is captured in a quote tattooed on his hand: "Be true to yourself. Others being true to you is just a plus, not a requirement."

He believes that confidence and consistency are essential for achieving success.

"You do what you think is right, and anything that you want to do, you can achieve. It's not impossible," he says.

After five years overseas, Bacchus says his experiences changed the way he views the world and encouraged him to embrace new opportunities beyond familiar surroundings.

"The world is just a big community," he says. "Don't be afraid to move to other communities and pursue your goals. Don't give up, and just be consistent in whatever you're doing."

While he remains open to future academic opportunities, including possibly pursuing a doctorate, Bacchus says his ultimate goal is to use what he has learned overseas to contribute to SVG.

He credits his faith as a source of strength throughout his journey, saying God has guided his decisions and helped him overcome challenges along the way.

"I just follow instructions basically. I pray, I listen, and He guides what I should do next."

SOURCE: Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Republic of China (Taiwan)