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| Sherritza Peterson |
So, she enrolled in a master's degree program in Counseling & Guidance with the University of the Virgin Islands at the St. Martin campus, thanks to a memorandum of understanding between the schools that allows students in St. Maarten to earn a UVI degree. “UVI was my first choice,” says Peterson who visited the St. Thomas campus and found it “warm and friendly.”
Peterson remained on St. Maarten to continue her job at the Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, while she attended UVI courses via Zoom. “The program is flexible. My professors and colleagues connected with me well,” she says about distance learning. Peterson earned her master’s degree in 2021, however when she learned that UVI had developed another related master’s program in School Counseling, she decided to enroll in that too. She attained her second master’s degree in May 2023.
“These programs have helped me immensely to apply what I’m learning to my day-to-day work and to provide quality services,” she says, noting coursework on multicultural counseling and professional and ethical issues in counseling were especially useful.
In her professional role, Peterson provides social work and school safety services to many of the government and government-subsidized schools in St. Maarten. She also liaises with external organizations and parents. “I am in the field of my dreams,” she says. “I come to this field as a whole person with love and passion to help support my clients and my community.”
“These programs have helped me immensely to apply what I’m learning to my day-to-day work and to provide quality services” - Sherritza Peterson
Peterson sees today’s young people as “innovative and resilient” and advises them that “mental health support can come in different forms such as a coach or teacher – all of that contributes to your wellbeing.” She encourages the youth to make use of school care teams including school counselors and get engaged in different activities and social clubs to become exposed to different people and to know that hope is not lost. She also believes that support from the community is necessary to help youth thrive.
Peterson is thankful to all the UVI faculty and staff who played a pivotal role in her education including Dr. Karen Brown, dean of the School of Education; Dr. Xuri Allen, assistant professor of Education and program director MASC; Marva Sam, UVI@USM liaison; and Olga Mussington-Service, manager Student Support Services Division.
In March 2023, Peterson was recognized for her outstanding achievements with the Scholarly and Productive Graduate Student Award.
