‘Stay true to you’ - Chevening scholar urges youth to create the success they want

From speaking on behalf of the nation's youth at high-level United Nations (UN) political forums to serving his fellow citizens as a justice of the peace, Orville Levy is no stranger to representing Jamaica.

His track record of service, combined with his stellar academic achievements, gave the mechanical engineer an edge, ultimately leading to his selection as one of 17 Jamaicans awarded Chevening Scholarships for 2025.

The road, however, was not smooth. His first and second applications were unsuccessful, but he refused to give up.

"I ended up on the reserve list two years in a row ... [but] I was determined I guess ... and so I went ahead, and I applied again, and this time I ended up going all the way through," Levy says.

Reflecting on the journey, he offers a lesson in patience and persistence.

"Sometimes we knock on a door, and we don't get an immediate response ... . There is a reason, and as a person of faith, I think that the Lord allows us to wait on certain things. Maybe because you're not ready yet, maybe because you're not equipped yet, or maybe because there's a little that you need to learn in terms of patience," he surmises, while encouraging aspiring scholars who were not successful on their first attempt not to give up.

Levy, who will begin studies in the United Kingdom (UK) this fall, had long set his sights on the Chevening programme and deliberately sought to gain the necessary work experience after completing his undergraduate degree.

Having now secured the scholarship, he is hopeful that his studies will equip him with the knowledge and connections to contribute meaningfully to Jamaica's infrastructural goals.

"I am big on infrastructure development and economic advancement through sustainable development, and so being equipped with an MBA in Engineering Management will afford me the ability to not just drive that change from the hands-on front, working directly in the industry, but also from a policy front," the Chevening scholar says.

He adds that as a member of the Caribbean Young Professional Network, his mission goes beyond Jamaica, as he seeks to contribute to regional development.

A central part of his vision is advancing Jamaica's transition to a greener, more inclusive energy system.

"To be able to drive meaningful change locally, [we must] look at the inhibitors to our development, and one of those is the cost of electricity. More needs to be done in terms of other renewable forms of energy introduction within the system, upgrading our grid to ensure that it works for everybody... energy transformation is going to be required ... . These are some of the things that I hope to learn more about and to be able to come back and exploit," Levy outlines.

The Old Harbour High School past student went on to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Technology, Jamaica. From early on, he was drawn to the Chevening programme.

"I went to Old Harbour High School. Moving from there, I went to the University of Technology where I studied for a Bachelor of Engineering, in Mechanical Engineering ... . The Chevening [programme] has been something that I've always wanted to do, in fact, before I even completed my undergraduate [studies]," he shares.

Now preparing for his studies in the UK, Levy hopes that his own story of perseverance and hard work will serve as an inspiration for young Jamaicans with big dreams.

"I just want to say, especially to Jamaican youth, do not limit yourself based on your circumstances. I grew up in a single-parent household. I didn't come from strong financial foundations. I went to Old Harbour High School, not a traditional high school. There are days when I never had funds ... at the secondary level ... at the tertiary level [but] I managed," he says.

"So, I would encourage anyone who you know is from difficult financial backgrounds, to not be deterred by the realities of where you are and what persons might be saying about you, or the mere fact that it hasn't been done before. Stay true to you, do your research, get the information ... and create the success that you want to see for you and your family," Levy encourages.

The Chevening Scholarship is an international programme funded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations. It provides opportunities for outstanding individuals worldwide to pursue postgraduate studies at universities in the UK.