Young Bahamian lands internship at Google offices

By HADASSAH HALL

Shaquille Hall is different, a focused, analytical 20-year-old who has chosen to be unfamiliar with the dangers of street life and familiar with his studies instead.

A member of the 2013 Gentleman’s Club class, Shaquille’s outstanding performance in the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) exams and other achievements led to him also becoming a National Merit Scholar in the same year.

His hard work and drive to succeed then landed him a full-academic scholarship to the prestigious, historically black Morehouse College in Atlanta.

“College is a huge expense, so I’m grateful to be able to study internationally with the help of scholarships, while alleviating my parents of a large portion of its costs,” said the son of Derrick and Grace Hall.

Now into his third year at Morehouse, Shaquille began making waves from his first year. The computer science major, who scored a 3.95 grade point average his first semester, was recommended by professors to apply for a 2014 winter course at tech giant Google. He loved it so much that he applied in 2015 for a paid internship and was then asked to return for summer 2016.

The future computer scientist, whose focus is cyber security, said the opportunity to intern at Google on what is to be the third consecutive year is surreal.

“It was an eye opening experience. One of the best things I learned was, sometimes you just have to fearlessly dive into things. And if you get stuck, just ask for help,” he said.

The internship has changed Shaquille’s way of thinking, particularly after working in such a goal-driven environment. “First, they hire people who prove they can get the job done. Then, they give you access to resources to get other things done. Nobody is over your shoulders. But because software engineering can be stressful, at Google, there are games and other amenities to help combat this. They are really big on a healthy work-life balance,” he said.

Additionally, as a 2013 High Honours graduate of St Augustine who graduated among the top five of his class, Shaquille has long been a high achiever. Hence, he fits in well with the Morehouse student mentality.

“I have met some of the smartest, most ambitious people I’ve ever met in my life. It’s satisfying. Everyone is striving; this even applies to my friends outside of Morehouse, including Spelman and Clarke (other parts of the Atlanta University Center),” he said.

“Morehouse is a jewel within itself. It’s very competitive and everyone here thinks he’s the best. But in the end we’re all still brothers supporting each other.”

As a determined young man, Shaquille recognises the importance of maintaining high grades. He is a proponent of practice and discipline. “Hard work has no schedule. I often work at odd hours of the night between 2am and 5 am when it is quiet. It’s a mental will,” he said.

Shaquille does find time for extra-curricular activities. He is President of the International Student Organisation and a member of the Collegiate 100 of Atlanta. He also recently applied to take a one-week computer science course with Black Men Code of Atlanta, a non-profit organisation that helps black men in their pursuit of higher education in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). To his surprise, he received an email from the organisation requesting that he instead help teach the course to college students.

And despite the distractions he inevitably encounters, Shaquille has tunnel vision when it comes to what he wishes to achieve. “I don’t like wasting time, so usually, if I don’t see it as a way of helping me achieve my goals, I don’t entertain it. Just as I used to look up to those before me, there are people looking up to me and respecting what I do. I want them to continue to have hope,” he said.

Shaquille has advice for the many young people who are engaging in crime. “We all face daily obstacles,” he said. “But there’s usually a better solution than the one we first think of. It’s just up to us to find it. If you work hard enough and want it, things will change. It may not be quickly or easily, but gradualism is often a much better approach to many problems than radicalism. There are organisations designed to help you. There is a better life. It’s never too late. Dream big.”

As to whether he feels pressured to do exceptionally well because he is on scholarships, he says, “Honestly, not at all. I’ve always striven to be the best at anything I’m passionate about. The expectations I place on myself are far greater than any that can come from somebody else, so the pressure I feel really comes from my hunger to be at the top.”

Comments

GrassRoot says...

go man go. good job, good luck. put the right Bahamas back onto the map.

Posted 19 January 2016, 6:54 p.m. Suggest removal

DillyTree says...

Well done, Mr. Hall. It's refreshing to read stories about young Bahamians doing well and achieving lofty goals. I do hope he returns to the Bahamas after his internship, as there is much to be done to fix our Bahamaland.

Posted 19 January 2016, 7:27 p.m. Suggest removal

MonkeeDoo says...

Amen ! Congratulations !

Posted 19 January 2016, 10:07 p.m. Suggest removal

Abaconian says...

Nice to see some good news once in a while on this page. He sounds like he's got his head screwed on right. Best of luck to him.

Posted 19 January 2016, 11:23 p.m. Suggest removal

Baha10 says...

Well done and hopefully Others will draw inspiration from his motivation and commitment to lift our National Grade Average above "D" and in turn, put us back on course to be "the best little Country in the World" by solving the problems that unfortunately now appear to threaten us on a daily basis before it is too late.

Posted 20 January 2016, 7:47 a.m. Suggest removal

EnoughIsEnough says...

great story. unlike Duty Free, I hope this young man does NOT return to the Bahamas. So many doors opening to him, so much opportunity abroad for growth, learning, experience - there is absolutely nothing on our island for him. It would be great if we did have an environment that embraced educated young men like Shaquille but the truth is that we do not. he will earn a sub standard salary, struggle to find financing for home that he will barely be able to afford - particularly if he wants to live in a safe neighbourhood to raise a family - his car will get broken into when he goes swimming at a beach that is covered in litter, he will put his life on the line swimming along the shore due to reckless jet ski operators, and he will put his life on the line every day that he leaves his home to go to work. It's not worth it, young man - make your life in the US or where ever else opportunities take you, and vacation in the Bahamas - then you can afford a vacation at a safe resort with a clean beach (probably in the out islands) and you can give back to your country by supporting local businesses / restaurants / cab drivers out of an excellent salary that you will be earning abroad.

Posted 20 January 2016, 7:55 a.m. Suggest removal

Well_mudda_take_sic says...

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Posted 20 January 2016, 8:40 a.m.

ThisIsOurs says...

You are correct, Pirates invited, commerce expelled. Pirates, rum runners, drug runners, gun runners, human smugglers, gaming.

But he might come back. Lots of people love this country. If he gets the right offer, he might come back

Posted 20 January 2016, 9:09 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

Posted 20 January 2016, 1:31 p.m.

TruePeople says...

He's not the only one who is or will be an asset to another country. He's one of many sadly.

Posted 20 January 2016, 3:36 p.m. Suggest removal

banker says...

You only live one life, and this young Bahamian got the golden opportunity to lead a fulfilled, career-satisfying, abundant life. Good on ya!

However, the brain drain continues. There are no opportunities in the Bahamas for a skilled young man such as this. Bravo!

Posted 20 January 2016, 10:24 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

Good job Mr. Hall. Keep it up.

If you can create software that tracks our politician's illegal money that would be very much appreciated.

Posted 20 January 2016, 1:32 p.m. Suggest removal

TruePeople says...

Google has a 20% rule, that 20% of your work is self-directed projects. This is how they remain so creative. Maybe Mr. Hall will take on something like this in his 20%

Posted 20 January 2016, 3:37 p.m. Suggest removal

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