Our Success Stories
My experience for me was excellent. In the first week, which was full Immersion was very emotional because we all had to tell our stories about what we have been through, throughout our lives. I was expecting it to be a tough week, but it wasn’t. Telling my story with the class was scary because I didn’t know anyone in the class, and it was like sharing my story with strangers, but I shared it anyway and it was a relief after sharing.
We also had counselling which was good also because you were able to share what you were going through and continue to go through. My favorite module was the FPU which is the Financial Peace University. It has taught me so much about knowing how to save and not waste money. The support system at Inspire is just Beautiful when I started, I had no support I didn’t know how I would have made it through out the program but the support and help that I received have been amazing.
Students, when you start, please don’t give up. There is hope the support is here I believe and trust that you all will do great. I am going to end IT here and let you all know to just TRUST THE PROCESS.
Avia Smith
I am a student of the Inspire Cayman Training Program who completed the Ready 2 Work course. I would like to encourage you to do your best as you are given the opportunity.
It is a time for you to have fun, be committed and work your way into a new avenue, dream or chase your goals. It was fun encouraging and supportive. Stay healthy and Trust the Process. Believe in yourself, with this opportunity there are many things that you will do as there is so much that you can accomplish. This is the start of a journey because after the course your journey continues.
Be Inspired! You might be the next lecturer; everyone has a different role. Don’t be discouraged always remember to have fun and believe in yourself!
Damien White
Where do I start, for starters Inspire Cayman Training is the most affective and amazing training program that open my eyes to so much of life with Full immersion in the first week the long hours its all the worth it you will be surprised what you learn. Has the weeks went further I have learnt first impression, professionalism, teamwork, communication skills, sexual harassment.
But the lesson that stood out to me was FPU budgeting and saving 1,000 for emergency fund you may be asking why? I have been through a lot with financial problems and now I know how to budget and now I’m never broke because what inspire cayman teach will surely ensure that you wont, only if you take in every important information, you be on the road to success.
Carol Rico Barnes
I am writing this letter to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Inspire Cayman program. I can confidently say that this has been the best program I have ever been a part of, and I believe that every student in the Cayman Islands should have the chance to join.
The Inspire Cayman program has helped me to grow in so many ways. Before joining the program, I struggled with self-confidence and motivation, but the program helped me to discover my strengths and develop my skills. The mentorship and guidance provided by the Inspire Cayman team have been invaluable, and I am grateful for the support that I have received every step of the way.
Through the program, I have had the opportunity to participate in various workshops, events, and community service projects, which have helped me to develop leadership skills, teamwork, and a sense of civic responsibility. The program has also exposed me to different career paths and helped me to gain a better understanding of what I want to do in the future.
Overall, I believe that every student in the Cayman Islands should have the chance to experience the benefits of the Inspire Cayman program. The program has played a significant role in shaping who I am today, and I am confident that it will continue to positively impact the lives of many more students in the future.
Thank you once again for everything that you do.
Henry Daniel Herrera
The Ready2Work program is very fun, informative and interactive. Coming here with an open mind made it a much more interesting experience. I met a lot of new people and made some unforgettable memories during my time here. Full Immersion was definitely one of the most interesting parts of my time here because I got the chance to share my story and also hear others. I strongly recommend those don’t yet have an idea of what they want to do enroll in this program. When you complete the course you will definitely know what career you would like to get in to. Financial Peace University (FPU) gave me a better peace of mind and understanding when it comes budgeting. The Substance Abuse module really stood out to me and I learned how to deal with those types of situations if ever encountered.
Juhrell Mclaughlin-Ebanks
First off, you made the right decision by applying to this PHENOMENAL programme. I will admit, it was a bit hard for me to open up and be open to joining this programme but I stuck it through and I don’t regret joining, it taught me a lot just about life as a whole.
The first week was definitely the most intense emotionally and physically (especially if you love sleepin the way that I do). Full immersion was an eye-opening experience. It makes you realize that you aren’t the only one who has experienced the dark side to life.. There are people in the same very room as you who have gone through if not the same thing as you but very similar to what you’ve gone through. You aren’t alone and being silent about it will only destroy you on the inside which starts to show physically. Speak up, be open, be raw, be vulnerable.. trust me. YOU ARE SEEN, HEARD AND VALUED!
After the second week, you’ll make connections and long-life friends, connect with them; you’re gonna see them every day so might as well. This is where shit gets real in the programme but stick the course out. DO NOT DROP OUT! It ain’t worth starting just to dip out knowing you’ve gotten a whole fully funded scholarship and not to mention, FREE lunch?? C’mon why’d you give that up? It wouldn’t be me for sure, lol.
Now, Ms. Kat, Mr. Michael, and Mr. Sean to sum it up: they are straight forward. Don’t take offense to this, we’re in the real world where things will be harsh. They want the absolute BEST for you, and they won’t settle for less and neither should you. They’re open to any conversations and questions that you may have, even if it’s just for conversation to talk to someone, they’ll be there for you when no one else seems to be. Absolutely amazing people.
Dr. Irene, absolutely lovely woman. She’s the best life coach/therapist that they could have ever brought in. She is there for any conversations you are too afraid to have with the ICT team. Absorb absolutely everything that they’ve taught you. Especially FPU, OMG can’t stress it enough, unna know say Cayman expensive so pay attention when Mr. Michael or Sean teaches it. Everything that they teach you can be applied to any aspect of your life so, take it all in.
Shannel
Trust the process, full immersion is most definitely the longest and most difficult part. It’s long, somewhat boring, and exhausting to have to share so much but, it’s honestly the best part to look back on. It brings everyone closer, and it may not seem like it at first, but you’ll all be bonded. Some may get closer than others, but the experience is worth it.
Regardless of if you get where you want to be by the end of the program, you get a step into the door of where you want to be. When I first started, I had only graduated 3 months before, I knew where I wanted to work but I had no idea of what my life would be like after this. “Would I get a job after? Is this program useless? It seems like a school.” I’d always ask myself those questions during the first week.
But the program was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, my overall mental health got better, and I made friends, family, and people like Ms. Kat whom I know I’ll always be able to talk to even if I’m not in the course anymore, they don’t just teach you and leave you, they stick with you. Once you get it in your head that everyone is different and everyone has struggles, you’ll connect with people more. I’m still applying to places, and I know soon I’ll be working, but some people find employment quicker than others, it just depends on the industry. Regardless, you learn so many life-long skills. Including FPU (Financial Peace University) even if it may seem boring.
Personally, my favorite part of the program was Mr. Andy’s story or the card games we played. Or the fact that I got to bring a new plushie every day because it was just our class joke or our class plushie. And you can most definitely start your class tradition. And obviously, my favorite was Ms. Kat. She was the best part of the program if you listen. If you don’t like listening or she must repeat herself a lot then, maybe Ms. Kat won’t be your favorite, but she was most definitely the best part of my experience.
Share your knowledge with a friend, partner, or anyone when you’re completed. Encourage them to join if they’re unemployed or don’t know what they want in life. I’ve already convinced my partner (Kory) to join the program and now he’ll have the same knowledge I do, and I love that. Another thing is that old students who are now employed get opportunities to come back and share their stories and how the program made them feel, I hope at one stage I’ll get to come back and share as well.
BE YOURSELF and remember the FREE LUNCH too. Personally, I loved to annoy Shannel, Juhrell and Henry F. But, we’re all closer now than we were before so, you most definitely do make friends out of this (you also may have people who you don’t like) but, you get closer to the ones you do like.
The program was and is phenomenal.
Samiya F
We are all meant to do something in life, whether we believe it or not, we are all meant to do something. The reason I joined Inspire Cayman Training (ICT) was because I didn’t have any idea what career path I wanted to pursue, and I felt lost. Then I was referred to ICT by a friend of mine who happened to hear about them and figured I was a perfect fit since I basically had no experience at all in the working world, but wanted to do something I enjoyed. Not saying you have to be in the same situation as me to join but from what I understood, they were providing the tools for me to get the job I wanted or figure out what that might be and much more. During the interview, they explained to me in more detail what the opportunity had to offer, and I would be lying if I said “This opportunity was too good to be true” hadn’t crossed my mind but honestly speaking, following through with this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in a long time.
After joining ICT I’ve taken away so much from the past 3 months I was there. Not only did I learn how to get a job but also how to keep it, it may sound simple but there are a lot of ways you can mess that last part up, ways you will learn to avoid throughout the course. I’ll admit, out of all the courses we covered, the two that stood out for me were Financial Peace University (FPU) and Tools for Success. FPU is a favorite of mine because one of my goals is to become financially free and this course does a great job of guiding you through the do’s and don’ts with your money. Tools for Success also stood out for me because it not only taught me how to get and keep a job but also other valuable things such as how to resolve conflicts professionally, receive criticism, and communicate effectively, whether that be by speaking, listening, reading, or writing. Every day I spent at ICT was an enjoyable experience for me due to the wonderful staff and their commitment to changing our lives for the better, but I would be lying if I said there weren’t moments, I didn’t feel annoyed, only because there were certain students apart of my group who didn’t take the opportunity seriously and were disrespectful, to say the least. Even then, the staff at ICT handled all scenarios professionally and were patient enough to give them chances to redeem themselves.
For those who may be wondering what I may be doing now that I am out of Inspire Cayman Training, I am now employed doing something I enjoy and on the path to successfully achieving my goals. I am proud to say I was apart of ICT and will implement the lessons I have learned and the advice I have received throughout my career and daily life. I also wish the wonderful staff at ICT all the best in their future endeavors and hope no one else wastes their time like the few students that were apart of my group. The experience at Inspire Cayman Training was a 10 out of 10 for me and I would definitely recommend anyone who felt similar to what I was going through to give it a chance and “Trust the Process”.
Jamal Paddyfoote
I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the International Yacht Training programme. The experience was truly invaluable, and I am grateful for the knowledge and skills I have gained through this program.
Morgan Barnes, Bodden Town
This programme for me was very inspiring. Mr. Michael and Ms. Kat were very nice to me and helped me a lot though the three months and I am grateful for them despite a minor setback early on. I am happy with where I am and I am excited for the future. I will be starting an apprenticeship at Red Sail Sports on February 1, 2023 to begin training as a boat captain.
Dante Oglio, George Town
I would recommend this programme to other people who want to change/improve their career.
Greg Bennett, George Town
Great FPU Class would do it again!
Yolanda Whittaker, Cayman Insurance Company
Michael has been a great teacher and has made me much more interested in personal finance. His advice has been the push need to get me into stick investing.
Justin Celestial, Cayman Insurance Company
The best thing I did for myself attended Inspire Cayman Training. After losing my job with the 2020 border closures, I began to feel hopeless and lost. I had no idea what kind of career I wanted since Tourism was all that I knew and all I ever planned on building in. I was desperate for guidance. That is exactly what I received from Inspire Cayman Training. This course helped transform me from “Unemployed and lost” to “Motivated and ready to use my professional training”. This course walked me through my transformation from start to finish.
Mr. Myles took time with me one on one to help me identify my strengths and help me choose a career path based on my personality. Inspire Cayman Training professionally tailored my resume and added several new qualifications to it after I graduated to show potential employers that I am ready and willing to learn.
They taught me valuable soft skills that employers are looking for, how to prepare for a job interview, how to be financially responsible, how to prepare for retirement when I do start working, and even helped me network with several HR managers from large firms offering new and exciting opportunities.
One of the most important things I learned with my training was to believe in myself and acknowledge how detrimental it is to my life to have a positive attitude.
Inspire Cayman Training never promised me a job but they promised to teach me everything I need to know to get one or create one. With this knowledge and the motivation, they gave me I was able to start a new career with a dynamic team and am now living a totally new life as a professional.
Thank you, Inspire Cayman Training, for your guidance and for giving me the tools I need to be a successful person and not become another statistic.
Allison Hidalgo, West Bay
“A life-changing experience … left this course with priceless life skills. The incredible support from Michael and staff will not be found anywhere else, and will never be forgotten”
Amanda Bertolino, George Town
I learned a great deal and enjoyed my time with Inspire Cayman training. I was assisted with scholarships which lead to me completing several professional development courses. Inspire Cayman Training assisted me with an Apprenticeship at Computer Geeks and further supported my development
by providing a monthly performance bonus. I would recommend Inspire Cayman Training to anyone who wants to pursue a career.
Henry Miller, Savannah
This training helped me fix a resume that I am proud to hand to business. Ive learnt that we can resolve workplace conflict in a manner where we understand how conflict escalates, and how we can better manage our own responses. The quality of the content was excellent and the facilitators knew how to get the information across to us in a way that we understood. This training gave me tools to improve my communication with everyone I work with: students, staff and faculty.
Kizzie Codlyn, Bodden Town
I am grateful to Michael and the team at Inspire Training Cayman for their support and offering an amazing debt management course through FPU. At a very challenging financial time, I was still able to pay off my credit card bill and get unstuck from the loop of accumulating debt. I have applied the principals learned to majority of every area of my life and my business. Michael is a true gem and I will definitely be back for more training.
Kirstie Johnson, Savannah
The Financial Peace University program was beneficial and something I have started on my journey to a brighter future. The sessions are engaging, thought-provoking. There is great rapport building, with others on the course. I highly recommend these courses.
Alicia Connolly
The Financial Peace University program was great and interactive. The instructors and fellow learners made the program realistic, and we got a lot out of it.
Meyleys Lorimer
The Inspire Cayman Training program is extremely beneficial. The knowledge earned is amazing and helpful. The material is provided electronically and simple enough to use and understand. The length of class works for people with full-time or part jobs also. I believe the facility is also advantageous to all seeking to learn a skill. A skill is something no one can take from you and opens the door for future opportunities.
Indira McLaughlin, Bodden Town
I received a full scholarship to attend a 12-week Employability course at Inspire Cayman Training. It was the best opportunity and decision I made. The team was caring, professional and took the time to guide and encourage me to achieve. With their motivation and encouragement, I completed an additional 4
professional development courses which has prepared me to compete for employment. I would like to extend a special thank you to Michael and Marilyn for all their guidance and support.
Sarai Brown, Bodden Town
Inspire Cayman training is such an important resource to have on island for our young creative people. As a parent of a talented aspiring craftsman I was at my wits end researching technical colleges in the US and elsewhere and could only find expensive and somewhat questionable options overseas. Since starting with Inspire Cayman my son has found his feet, learning new skills and practical workplace safety and operational considerations. Importantly the course is fully accredited. My son is very much looking forward to obtaining employment in the carpentry area. It’s also nice as a parent to have him home!”
Natasha Playne, Parent
I am elated to have been apart of the class of March 2021 - June 2021 Tools for Success-Employability and Investment class.
We were taught valuable lessons in communication and leadership all of what equipped us with the right tools to be successful business owners, stock investors and outstanding employees. I am thankful for the experience of being a part of this great training program. Thanks to all those who played a role in making Inspire Cayman Training a success. I thank you all for empowering and motivating students to be the best version of themselves.
Rasciene Whittaker, North Side
My training at Inspire Cayman Training was an excellent experience. I learnt a lot. We were successful in preparing our resumes and cover letters, the correct way. The professional development course I studied was just the right thing for my career choice. The instructor was very much a great person. Mr. Myles’ company is God sent for those that want to upgrade their career path.
El-Linda McField, George Town
Financial Peace was an eye opener. I have gained so much from this course. It was very inspirational and educational. You made the course very interesting by the way you presented it to us ,hence the reason why I was able to interact that much. I just want to thank you very much for this course and I will be very INTENTIONAL with my finances going forward.
Karen Smith
I started this program because I found it hard to find a job that was suitable for me. When I first started the program, I had no hopes in finding a suitable job and honestly speaking I thought it was too good to be true going into something you had to barely put any effort in. I will tell you this now, joining Inspire Cayman Training was one of if not the best decision I’ve made in my life. I‘ve learnt a lot in the in past 3 months I have been here and if anyone that wants to join the program had any second guesses, don’t, at the end of everything, you’ll realize how much they’ve done for you.
Owens Ebanks, Savannah
I never thought that I would’ve completed the program, I am thankful for having the opportunity. I came and achieved what I wanted, now I’m training with George Water Sports to becoming a tour Captain.
Desmond Anderson, Bodden Town