Life is a series of peaks and valleys, sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down. But it is the difficult times where we need a little more support and guidance.

Maschelle Brown has experienced his fair share of adversities, but like the phoenix he has risen above the challenges that have made him into a monumental success.

The St. Ann native was born in the rural community of Claremont, in the district of Rural Retreat, more popularly known as ‘Rola’. The fifth of six children for his mother, the late Pernis Morris-Brown, he was also encouraged to read and would make several trips to the mobile library bus that visited his community.

“The library bus would visit on some Fridays, and this is where I honed my skills in adventure reading and researching. My community consisted of a network of smaller communities which made the trips to the library bus, interesting, competitive and all around festive,” Brown said.

After graduating from the Ferncourt High School, Brown knew his mother was unable to facilitate sending both himself and his brother to university.

“She pulled me aside to tell me shortly after graduation and I finished the sentence for her. I said ‘I know, mom. I understand it’s up to me now,” he said.

Brown began what proved to be an illustrious career in the tourism sector. 

“My closest cousin at the time attended a catering school in Ocho Rios, and I decided to go as well and study tourism and hospitality,” he said.

According to Brown, it was only natural for him to become involved in the tourism industry. 

“It was the closest resource around for young adults looking for a better way of life. I was and still am naturally articulate, funny and charismatic, so working in the tourist industry was very beneficial to me. I am ambitious in nature and this pushed me to search for bigger and better things,” he said.

After four years in the tourism sector, Brown was recruited to work for a company in Palm Beach, Florida. His life changed significantly and, following his relocation, he was able to provide more for himself and his family.

“I was able to finish my education and I decided on a career change because it was inevitable that I wouldn’t be a waiter for all of my life. Out of curiosity, my vocabulary and love for reading and expanding my knowledge made it easy for me to transition into being a journalist,” he recalled.

PASSIONATE ABOUT WRITING

Brown said his passion for writing and attaining a dream many thought would elude him has been one of his biggest accomplishments to date.

“I am coming from a place where my opinion didn’t matter much, and where many people said I wasn’t going to achieve anything in life. I have proven them wrong,” he said.

In 2016, Brown graduated from the University of Phoenix in Arizona, with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and communications.

He has since written for numerous publications across Florida.

For Brown, expressing himself through writing has been a means of reaching people and highlighting areas or issues of distress, motivating others, and painting pictures with words that are denied by so many.

“I have always been a people person, so I believe a great achievement is being able to impart not only life skills but morals, ethics and love to so many that I have come in contact with throughout my career and travels,” he said.   

Brown has plans to expand his career, with the addition of short films, documentaries and a book that is currently in the pipeline.

“The book is a much-anticipated project that should be on the shelves in 2021. It’s a debut of my entrance into educational inspiration and motivation for my community. I want persons to know that the sky is the limit, and that they should keep focused and work towards achieving their goals,” Brown said.

KH