Alfred Fuller's Journey from Hardship to Hope

At just 19 years old, Alfred Fuller has already demonstrated incredible grit, resilience, and vision, showing that perseverance can transform struggles into opportunities. This aspiring entrepreneur and St Jago High School alumnus recently won the inaugural Access Financial Services (AFS) Marcus James Scholarship for Entrepreneurship, a moment his mother had long prayed for.

Growing up in a single-parent household in Bog Walk, St Catherine, Fuller watched his mother, Larnett Squire, stretch limited resources to care for him and his two sisters, all while teaching them the values of humility and gratitude. "My mother always told me that even if you don't have much, you must still give thanks and work for what you want. That spirit has stayed with me; gratitude for what I have, and determination for what I can build," Fuller shared.

Overcoming Adversity with Determination

Fuller faced significant challenges, including tough decisions like whether to spend his last $100 on bus fare for school or save it for family needs. At age 13, he began selling sweets at St Jago High School, turning a potential source of ridicule into the foundation of his entrepreneurial path. "People would see me with my little bag of sweets and laugh. But I never minded, because I had a goal. Even though it started small, it showed me that you can make a difference with whatever you have in your hands," he asserted.

His entrepreneurial spirit flourished, earning him respect from peers. Fuller led four school clubs, including the Social Entrepreneurship Club, where he initiated projects like Books for Change, redistributing gently used books to children in need. He also excelled as a national-level decathlete, balancing academics, athletics, and leadership with quiet resilience.

Profit and Purpose Combined

Now a first-year student at the University of Technology, Jamaica, pursuing a bachelor's in business administration, Fuller aims to build enterprises that merge profit with purpose. "Some people see entrepreneurship as a career; I see it as a responsibility," he affirmed. His ideas include a digital platform to connect small farmers directly with urban consumers, reducing waste and boosting income, and a social enterprise producing affordable study materials to prevent students from choosing between bus fare and textbooks.

This vision earned him the AFS Marcus James Scholarship, valued at $750,000 annually and renewable for up to three years. It covers tuition, room and board, and provides technical business development assistance through partnerships with organizations like the Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

Belief and Investment in Potential

For Fuller, the scholarship is more than financial aid; it's a vote of confidence. "This scholarship tells me that someone believes in my potential. After almost facing the harsh reality of not continuing my tertiary education due to costs, I want to maximize this opportunity so that Access Financial and Jamaica can see the results of their investment," he said.

Named after Access Financial Services' founder Marcus James, the scholarship is part of the company's commitment to empower Jamaican youth through education and entrepreneurship. "By investing in students like Alfred, we're not just investing in education but planting seeds for sustainable businesses that uplift communities. In our 25th year, we're deepening our community footprint through initiatives like this scholarship and Access Hope, which donated over $6.2 million for community projects this year," James explained, highlighting community empowerment as key to national development.