Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
I believe that I am where I’ve always dreamed of being; in a position to actively shape my destiny and reciprocate my training to inspire creative change in others.
What is your biggest professional challenge?
Butting heads with other professionals who don’t understand the value of the creative arts.
What is your biggest life challenge?
Being able to quiet the creative voices in my head and zero in on one project. Creativity doesn’t respond to the theory of time and space and there are many projects screaming to be unleashed so I listen to three at a time or so I think.
When you look to the future what do you see?
I see a wealth of creativity and a representation of a better rounded me; Janelle Mitchell, a learner, a teacher, a leader. Given time the world will see these facets of me.
What is your favourite pastime?
Watching a good movie or teaching my FUNimars (the way I teach is loads of fun).
What is your favourite meal?
Alfredo pasta with salmon but occasionally sushi is the front runner.
On Saturday nights where are you likely to be?
I am likely to be watching a great movie or chillaxing with friends and family unless there is more fun to be had at an event then that’s where I’ll be. The moment dictates the activity.
What upsets you the most?
People, especially the youth, making the decision to allow their surroundings to determine their destiny. You control your destiny; take charge of it.
What is your guiding philosophy?
Knowing is incomparable to learning. I walk with this daily, literally and figuratively. It is better to know how to learn than to know and I am a learner.
If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
I would produce a creative challenge for the youth of Barbados between 11 and 35 years old, to craft a creative piece that portrays how they feel about their society or what they feel needs to be done for a more harmonious Barbados. Art and creative expression represent society and we need to give the youth more creative licences since they will be leading us in a few years to come. Why not hear their voices now through their creativity and apply those best practices? I believe creative change is what we need in this society.
