NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Alexandria Pinder, a once unassuming Family Island girl, has blossomed right into a bearer of skilled titles fit for a social butterfly.
The 24-year-old is an internationally acclaimed model, local radio personality, entrepreneur and tv producer.
From a young age, Alex was naturally drawn to media tools and driven by what she could create. She burned compact discs, composed music, generated videos and even disc jockeyed.
“My favourite subject at school was computer and I used to be all the time tech-savvy. I also needed to take heed to music when doing homework. My parents and others at home would all the time ask for my help with technology and if there was one thing I might get a beating for, it was staying up late to be on a laptop,” said Pinder.
In her early twenties, Pinder’s passion was cemented with an Associate of Applied Science in Media Technology from Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). It was during her journey to being awarded this degree that she landed a spot as a radio personality on 103.5 The Beat and was the producer of the Freedom March show
hosted by Rodney Moncur.
“Never hand over” is a mantra Pinder echoes while remaining committed to being the perfect in any space she finds herself. She graduated from the Media Technology programme as its top student and with an honour roll status.
Nonetheless, this didn’t come easy. She suffered a broken foot, was hospitalised for weeks and was told she may never walk again. This might mean not with the ability to cross the stage on her graduation day, which was approaching.
Moreover, Pinder didn’t robotically assume her Verizon Media and ILTV Studio roles. As most interns, when accepted by 103.5 The Beat, she was immersed in paperwork and seemingly trivial ‘water girl’ errands before having a direct experience with audio and later television production activities.
The internship component was mandatory for the completion of her Media Technology programme. Pinder states she didn’t just hop within the studio and say, “let me talk on the radio”.
“I thank BTVI for the internship requirement so our skills may be put to the test. I even used samples from my Audio Production class in the course of the internship application process,” said Pinder.
The internship is a core component of most of BTVI’s programmes, as greater than ninety percent of scholars must satisfy this requirement. Due to this fact, BTVI recently launched Smart Start #dontcountusout initiative features a 30-hour service-learning, apprentice-type component, which is incorporated in partnership with industry and business partners.
Like Pinder’s hands-on internship related to Media Technology, students who didn’t finish highschool in 2020, 2021 or 2022 and are taken with Automotive Mechanics, Beauty Trades, Construction Trades or Fashion Trades can earn a Workforce Readiness Certificate while having work experience.
The Smart Start programme has began in Grand Bahama and can soon begin in Recent Windfall. A rollout across several Family Islands is predicted this summer and Fall 2022.
