HERNEL SATCHELL is a HEART graduate who has worked hard to become the best in his field and has indeed received numerous accolades of being a man deeply in love with his profession. He, however, did not arrive at his destination without years of relentless dedication to his dreams and says he owes his status in life and what he has become to one institution the HEART Trust/NTA.
Hernel enrolled at HEART in 1989, a month after leaving Bog Walk Secondary School. He recalls that although he was uncertain of where he wanted to continue his education, he knew that his love for plants, watered by his experience in horticulture at secondary school, would propel him to choose the right career path.
FIRST DISPLAY
And certainly it did. In September of that year, someone who knew of his undying passion for nature, introduced him to the Ebony Park HEART Academy in Toll Gate, Clarendon, where he eagerly signed up for the certificate programme in Horticulture.
Hernel remembers life at the Academy as being filled with moments of self-actualisation, challenges and many positive experiences for which he will be forever grateful. His greatest test, he admits, was learning to work as part of a team, which helped him immensely after he left Ebony Park.
In 1991, Hernel proudly graduated from Ebony Park, a certificated horticulturist intent on showcasing his skills to the world. His first display of talent began as the greenhouse manager at the Jamaica Association For Persons with Mental Retardation.
Although Hernel enjoyed his job, he was more inclined to become an entrepreneur, and in 1996 he started his own business as a landscaping consultant. He claims, however, that his love for his profession without experience did not take him very far in this new realm and so he was forced to refocus.
It was not long before Hernel's services were required at the Hilton Kingston Hotel where he became the head gardener in 1998.
Human resources director at the Hilton Hotel, Alecia Lyle, describes Hernel as an unassuming, patient worker who seems to be more comfortable with the plants than anything else.
"Since the Hilton has embarked on its beautification project, Hernel has shown that he has a wealth of knowledge about plants and simply enjoys doing what he does best," Ms. Lyle said.
HARD WORK
A staunch Seventh-Day Adventist, Hernel is guided by the concepts of hard work and efficiency.
"I love my job, but the greatest challenge is getting every member of my team to put in at least 95 per cent in his work," Satchell said.
His undying gratitude to Ebony Park remains and he encourages as many young persons as he can to enrol in a programme at the HEART Trust.
"HEART motivated me to become the best in what I do. It is so respected by corporate Jamaica, that certification from HEART will ensure that you are placed in a job."
Hernel Satchell is guided by his philosophy that once there is life, there is hope and he is adamant about becoming an entrepreneur again.
"I know that this time I can do it. I have much more experience and a lot more assurance about being a landscape consultant. This time, it will work," Hernel says.
