Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Left: "Motherhood is my extra drive to succeed," says 25-year-old Nickeisha Barnes, who was voted second in the 2006 Digicel Rising Stars competition.   Right: The joy of Nickeisha Barnes' life, three-year-old Jahneil Dixon, displays his support. - photos by Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

"The biggest thing for me is coming off stage and hearing him say, 'Mommy, you sound good, I love the song you sing, you sell off Mommy.'" Those are the words said by Nickeisha Barnes' son Jahneil Dixon. Barnes is the Digicel Rising Stars 2006 second-place winner.

"No matter what anybody says, once I see his face, I know I can't go wrong," said Barnes.

The 25-year-old is a proud mother of her three-year-old son. She told Flair Jahneil is the inspiration for her achievements such as graduating from the University of the West Indies with an honours degree in political history and sociology and succeeding in Rising Stars. He was present at her graduation and he also attended all her studio performances during the recording of Rising Stars.

"His face is the face I needed to see. His face was the confirmation that, 'Mommy you a do yuh ting.'"

Field officer

Now, in between studio rehearsals Barnes works as a field officer at the Ministry of Health. She knows that being a young mother and an entertainer are difficult roles, but she is determined to conquer them both. "Once I have a dream, I start to lay the foundation."

When Barnes was 16 years old, while attending Holy Childhood High in St. Andrew, her sights became set on being a singer and winning a Grammy award. "My parents wanted me to be a lawyer. But watching television, I saw what Whitney Houston, Maria Carey and others were doing and I wanted to be like them."

Being successful is part of her plan for being able to provide for her son. "I want to give him what I didn't have. Taking care of him in all aspects, more than being financially able, but being there for him."

The birth of her son has been her proudest moment and has given her extra drive to succeed.