Nevaeh Benjamin-Nesbitt

I am from Bermuda and America, but I identify more with from Bermuda. I like to cook, bake, and crochet as hobbies. I was kinda pushed into cooking and baking. In the beginning it was just me following around my parents and my great grandmother Mama Chris in the kitchen, then it progressed to me needing to cook for the family.

My number one goal is to be happy in life. I know that sounds basic but it’s true because I’ve struggled with happiness for most of my life. Another goal of mine is to build something for myself whether that be a business, career, and/or family.

I was in a really dark place before and I made a promise to myself that I’d never go back there. That keeps me going. Whenever I am close to giving up I think back to all of that and I say there is no way I put in all that work and dragged myself through it to stop, give up, or backslide now. Sometimes I think it is the anger that drives me.

My younger sister motivates me as well, I want to be someone she can look up to and be proud of. My great grandmother (Mama Chris) is the matriarch of the family. She has done everything for this family and it inspires and motivates me to get on her level. It also motivates me to be better and there for her.

Whenever I think of my greatest accomplishment I think of the fact that I kept going with life and took the “good path” despite having almost every reason not to. I don’t show it but in some things I even excel. In short, I guess my biggest accomplishment is that I’ve stayed strong and resilient through everything.

Interview by Jinni Choi, spring 2022