Written by Dillon C Maurer
Harding University senior Ralph Patrick has a dream to one day become the next premier of theTurks and Caicos Islands,an island branched off of the Bahamas.Since he was 7-years-old, Patrick has dreamed of becoming a powerful leader and example to the people of his birth country.
Towards the end of Patrick’s high school career, he attended school in Canada. It was there that he felt called to bring positive change to his country.
“Exposure to the United States gave me that burning desire…to know that there is a different way in doing things and looking at things,” Patrick said. “I always wanted to help my country in some way, and I figured that the best way to do it was from a leadership position.”Patrick added that his nation is still learning how to handle democracy.
“The nation is still young, still growing. It is a young democracy going through its growing pains,” Patrick said.Those pains are what Patrick hopes to help his country grow out of. Patrick said there are many aspects of his country that he wants to impact when he reaches his goal.
“Well I definitely want to get involved in social work and education… helping children out in that way,” he said.
Patrick said he also wants to “create opportunities for other people to excel in life.” He said he feels supported by the people who have encouraged him to follow his dreams, but he said his dreams are not always looked at as realistic.
“Many people hear my dream and the first thing people do is chuckle, but this gives me a new appreciation for the job, to know this a lofty job,” Patrick said. “It is big aspirations that I am trying to achieve here.”
Patrick said he is a fan of inspirational people and often reads about U.S. presidents in his free time. His favorite is Abraham Lincoln.
