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Columnists
 Dr. Wel'Milya O. Francis
I believe that life is
a blank canvas. We with our achievements, failures and experiences
create masterpieces that span eras of greatness. I was born in Nassau,
Bahamas, to Wellington and Grace Francis who groomed me and placed
me upon the path to setting and achieving goals. From the young
age of five, I chose dentistry as a career. I had no idea how much
would have to go into actually obtaining that goal. Nevertheless,
I have worked assiduously each day of my life to achieve it.
Completing Kingsway Academy in 1999, I left home that fall to pursue
a Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Fisk University in Nashville, TN.
There, I was able to expand upon the knowledge that I had already
gained and would take me to the next level in my education. I began
my matriculation through dental school at Meharry Medical College
in Nashville, TN in 2003 and obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery
degree this year. Embracing the concept of professional organizations,
I became a member of the American Association of Women Dentists,
American Student Dental Association, Student National Dental Association
and Ewell Neil Dental Society. I was very fortunate to have the
opportunity to leave home to obtain an excellent education. While
I am grateful for this, I am even more grateful to have gained life
experiences and exposures to different cultures, people and societies.
I have always represented my country well and have acknowledged
its contributions to my life and who I am as a person. As a proud
Bahamian, I always knew that someday I would return home to the
Bahamas to practice although I was never certain of when it would
be. Growing up, I believed that I was the future and worked hard
to ensure that I would become a positive member of our society.
I am a firm believer in service to mankind and I realize that it
is my role as well as the role of all Bahamians to contribute to
our nation and the well being of its future. My ultimate passion
is for mentorship, education and financial assistance for other
Bahamians who are trying to bring growth and development to themselves
and our country. Returning home now was a decision that challenged
me for months because there are greater opportunities abroad. However,
I realize that I am yesterday’s vision of today and I have
dreams and goals that I wish to see unfolded in a land that I call
home.
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