A Jamaican Experience: A Journey of Opportunity, Friendship, and Self-Discovery

By: Baron Stewart

A little luck, good timing, and a solid education steered me toward the life I have today—far from the one my father originally planned. My father, the manager of the Linotype department at The Daily Gleaner, Jamaica’s leading newspaper, never had the chance to attend secondary school. During his youth, secondary education in Jamaica wasn’t free, making it inaccessible to most low-income families.

For boys like me, the future was already mapped out—remaining in elementary school until age fourteen, then finding an apprenticeship to learn a trade. My father intended for me to stay at Calabar Elementary for two more years before sending me to the countryside to become a farmer. But that plan was doomed from the start—I was a skinny, timid boy with no actual physical skills and little motivation for manual labor. What I did have was intelligence.

In 1957, everything changed. The Jamaican government introduced the Common Entrance Examination, offering bright but underprivileged children like me a pathway to secondary school. I took the exam for the first time in 1958 and passed, earning a place at Excelsior High School. But my father wasn’t satisfied—he wanted me to attend St. George’s, closer to home. When he failed to get me admitted there, he decided I should retake the exam.

Many middle-class families sent their children to preparatory schools to give them an advantage, but I had no such luxury. Still, in 1959, I sat for the Common Entrance Exam again with little preparation. Once again, I passed—this time earning admission to Kingston College, just a block away from where I lived on Victoria Avenue. That moment changed everything.

The KC Experience: A World of Possibilities

Kingston College was electric. I felt different when I put on my khaki pants, white shirt, and purple-and-white tie. I was no longer just another poor boy from the neighborhood—I was a KC boy with prospects.

For the first time, I was surrounded by students from the upper echelons of Jamaican society. Kingston College structured its students into Forms, from First to Sixth, with the expectation that we would complete our studies in seven years. Each Form was further divided into "streams," ranked by academic performance. The "A" stream was for the younger, exceptionally bright students, while the "Delta" (D) stream was for older, bright students. I was placed in the Delta stream.

Everything at KC was ranked—test scores, class standings, even our place among our peers. Students who finished first or second in their class at the end of each year were publicly recognized at the prize-giving ceremony. Despite my best efforts, I never secured one of those top spots. But I had my moments. In Fourth Form, I ranked first in the entire year in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. My strengths lay in numbers and logic, while I was merely average in English, Latin, and History.

Beyond academics, my school life was profoundly shaped by the friends I surrounded myself with. Two boys, in particular, left a lasting imprint on my journey—William Thomas, known as Fowler, and Trevor Yap Chung.

Fowler: The Fearless Leader

Fowler was the group's de facto leader surrounding the McLean brothers, some of the best athletes at KC. He was from Western Kingston and had a reputation that made him both feared and respected. A childhood stabbing had given him an almost mythical status, and his intimidating presence meant that many students at KC carried extra money just in case Fowler asked for some.

Despite his gangster persona, Fowler was brilliant. He excelled academically and organized cramming sessions before exams, ensuring that those who followed him stayed afloat in school. His last-minute study method worked wonders for him, but it resulted in only average grades for me.

After we graduated in 1966, we lost touch. Years later, I was shocked to run into Fowler at Stony Brook University, where I was pursuing a PhD in Mathematics. He was there, too, working toward a PhD in Chemistry. Some things never changed—he still carried himself like a gangster. Eventually, he was arrested for assaulting another student and left Stony Brook to continue his studies elsewhere.

Our paths crossed one final time in 2000 when Ronnie organized a McLean family reunion. Fowler arrived impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, exuding confidence. With a smirk, he walked up to me and said, "Baron Stewart, the most risk-averse person I know." It was the last time I ever saw him. Shortly after, I heard he had died in an accident.

Trevor: A Friend and a Mentor

If Fowler represented one extreme, Trevor Yap Chung was the opposite. Without a doubt, Trevor was the brightest student at KC—perhaps the most brilliant person I have ever met. He was an A student in every subject, and straight out of KC, he was accepted to Harvard. Though he never attended, I later heard he went on to work for Bell Laboratories.

Trevor wasn’t just intelligent—he was disciplined. When I did well in school, it was because I spent time with him. Unlike Fowler’s cramming method, Trevor believed in studying throughout the year. He showed me that learning wasn’t just about passing tests—it was about curiosity, about pushing the limits of what we could understand.

My Success in the KC Cadet Band

One major success I had at KC was playing in the KC Cadet Band. Ronnie, Lloyd, and I first played the bugle in the marching band, and the following year, Ronnie moved on to play the drums. We loved it. We enjoyed the attention and the pageantry that the marching band gave us.

My big success came when Issac Henry, the faculty member in charge of the Cadet Corps, offered me the role of drum major—the leader who marches in front of the band. I was shocked. I had no confidence to lead anything and declined the offer. To this day, I regret that decision. Instead, Issac Henry offered the drum major position to Barry Pitter, another boy from the Delta stream. Barry accepted and did an excellent job.

Lifelong Bonds and the KC Legacy

Today, I am still connected to the boys from the Delta stream. On the second Sunday of every month, we gather for a Zoom call, keeping up with each other's lives and reminiscing about our KC days. This year, 2025, marks the 100th anniversary of Kingston College, and we plan to reunite in Jamaica to celebrate.

Reflections on a Life Shaped by KC

Kingston College was more than just a school—it was a turning point in my life. It gave me confidence, discipline, and friendships that shaped my journey. The competition, the struggles, and the camaraderie shaped the person I became.

Without KC, I might have followed my father’s plan to become a farmer. Instead, I found a different path filled with knowledge, opportunity, and self-discovery. And for that, I will always be grateful.