Nickeil Edwards moved from Manchester to Kingston after trying to get into nursing school but things didn’t go as planned. In her pocket was nothing but her dreams, a visual map of her destination.
She landed a job in the telecommunications customer service department (call center) and was quickly promoted.
For a country girl born and raised, she said life“One step closer to finding a new path.”
“There was an economic ‘situation ship’ that played a role in everything, and I didn’t have the confidence to pay to research something I didn’t want to do at heart,” Edwards continued.
She shared that instead of staying in Mandeville where she was born and raised, she left and started a new journey.
“That’s partly what I was thinking of other people thinking or saying,” Edwards shared, who said TikTok was launching a variety of treats at Halfway Tree and downtown Kingston earlier this week. It absorbed many social media users when a video selling snacks and snacks went viral.
“It’s ironic. Who cares what other people think about me not furthering my studies or going back to school here and selling sweets on the streets of the capital. Although I was making sales in an environment where I chose to grow my business on the go, at lunchtime or on the way home, on my days off I decided to document what I was doing.” she said..
The idea was nothing new to Edwards. She said her business-minded sister, Marika Morgan, inspired her to consider selling sweets as a side business.
“She (my sister) is just a go-getter. And about a month ago, my cousin, who invests in NFTs, [single-handedly] It changed the way I think and see life. He taught me why it’s essential to focus on the positive things in life and really emphasized the benefits of being grateful,” Edwards said.
She said, “Overall, my whole circle has been supportive, including family and friends who have become family. Not judging…they just want to know I’m safe.They all motivate me every day to be the best version of myself.”
In addition to her venture selling sweets, which Edwards calls Sweetie Tings, the 21-year-old also has Hair Tings, a hair accessory and hair training supply venture she launched during the pandemic.
“I continue to gain experience and knowledge in customer service, but working for someone other than myself is not the way forward that I envisioned. I want to grow my business.”
For Edwards, this is one step closer to becoming a “girl boss,” and the notion of living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t stop it. She hasn’t given up on her dream of becoming a nurse, but she believes it’s in her goal to help others, as she experienced as a teenager when she was diagnosed with scoliosis. She believes it will show up.
“The Duncan Tree Foundation donated rods and bolts for corrective surgery. It’s still possible, but it can be a reality, but I’m looking at other opportunities and careers that intrigue me to become something big,” she said.
“Sweet Tings and Hair Tings is a relatively small business, but our passion for helping others is huge. I haven’t done enough research.My goal is to inspire others in the way I was inspired…It doesn’t matter what expectations people have of you.It means you can’t do more No,” Edwards continued.
stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com
