By CTFG
At UVI we take pride in our non-traditional students, many for whom the road to higher education was not a straight path, but rather a journey of detours, life experiences, and the courage to start anew. This month our Spotlight shines on one such member of the Bucs Family; meet the man with a plan for the Process and the Technique for the turn tables, Kurvin “DJ Choco” Constable.
“Progress cannot be realized if knowledge is not passed on.”
Kurvin Constable
Who is Kurvin Constable?
A proud, confident, people-oriented individual who thrives on success.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Process Technology?
I had recently moved to St. Croix from St. Lucia and it was always part of my plan to further my education and embrace any opportunities that were afforded. While my wife and I were busy raising a family, the topic was always discussed as we kept browsing the UVI course offerings. I wanted a course of study that would not present unnecessary strain on the family unit. It was then that she suggested the Process Technology course. I was not familiar with it. I conducted a bit of research and eventually applied to UVI and enrolled in the course in 2016.
“UVI presented an opportunity which didn’t only emphasize on academics, but also individual wellness, real life preparation and a foundation to build on.”
Kurvin Constable
How did your time at UVI prepare you for the road to Process Technician?
The program is very comprehensive and prepares you for a wide variety of roles in the workplace.
What is one thing about process technology that you think most people are unaware of?
In our community of St. Croix, most people seem to think that Process Technology is refinery specific. It’s not! While the program prepares you for careers in the oil industry, it also caters to any processing plants, distilleries, wastewater treatment as well as manufacturing industries.
Your skillsets are not limited to process technology. How did DJ Choco emerge?
I was raised in a household and community in St Lucia where music was continuously heard. My mom, who has retired as a teacher, taught quadrille as well as country and western dancing both at school and in
the community. My dad, a construction worker, travelled occasionally to neighboring Martinique and returned home with French music. The community was filled with a variety of organizations and clubs which always had a celebration. All of these, coupled with my long commute to school, then eventually work, afforded me sufficient opportunities to listen to the local radio stations and any other mixtapes produced by the local disc jockeys. It was after this, while working as a banker that I opened “Playaz Sports Bar”, and then “Dj Choco” was born.
If you were to build a five-track playlist as the soundtrack of your journey from UVI Buc to your present-day life as a process technician, what would it be comprised of, and why each selection and track order?
- Sizzla: Thank You Mama (I’m very close and attached to my mom as she has a vital role in who I am)
- Barrington Levy: Too Experienced (By the time I enrolled at UVI, I was way into adulthood and that level of maturity provided even greater insight into my path forward
- Bob Marley: Coming From The Cold (Just to show that it’s never too late to show up and stand out)
- Sizzla: Guide Over Us (The encouragement and support from my wife as we navigated that aspect of our family life)
- Sizzla: Solid As A Rock (Determination, Success)
Define Success
The realization that you have achieved the desired outcome on a course or task that you have embarked on.
Why does what you do matter?
Progress cannot be realized if knowledge is not passed on. Satisfaction comes from knowing that you have used your strengths and resources to help another realize a goal and become a better individual.
What is the most notable tool (technical or otherwise) that any UVI professor imparted to you that you implement on your life’s journey, professional or otherwise?
Find the balance and take advantage of every opportunity.
What advice would you give an aspiring process technician?
Take full advantage of the program. Understand and recognize the scope of the course, then go out and be that exceptional Process Technician. It is worth the sacrifice.
What’s next for Kurvin Constable?
While I would love to continue academically, priorities sometimes have to be repurposed as I continue to navigate my family life
Where can we follow your work?
I continue to make significant contributions to my team at Ocean Point Terminal as a Terminal Operator while still maintaining a presence on the social arena when the services of “DJ Choco” is desired.
“Satisfaction comes from knowing that you have used your strengths and resources to help another realize a goal and become a better individual.”
Kurvin Constable
