Jamaican couple earns cybersecurity degrees together after education setbacks

Jamaican husband and wife Osheen Sims and Tony-Ann Buckle Sims are celebrating a shared academic milestone after graduating together from the University of Maryland Global Campus, following earlier interruptions and challenges in their education journeys.

The couple appeared by Zoom on TVJ's Diaspora Check-In, where they described the moment as emotional, especially because their relatives were present to witness them cross the stage together. Tony-Ann said she had originally been on track to finish before her husband, but he accelerated his studies so they could graduate at the same ceremony.

Osheen said he had paused his studies after leaving the University of Technology in Jamaica and migrating to the United States. After settling overseas, he found work and built a career, later becoming a quality assurance specialist at Amazon. Still, he said he felt he had not completed an important goal by leaving his bachelor's degree unfinished.

Tony-Ann's decision to return to school helped persuade him to enrol again. She said the process was easier for her because she had attended high school in the United States, while Osheen had to apply for records from Jamaica and have his UTech credits assessed for transfer into the US system. Osheen said he later discovered he had been only one class short of completing his programme at UTech.

Both studied cybersecurity and technology, a choice they said made the process more manageable because they could support each other through assignments, projects and scheduling. They did not always take the same classes at the same time, but the shared field allowed them to compare approaches and keep each other focused.

The couple also graduated with honours. Osheen said he had not understood the US honour society system until Tony-Ann explained that his academic standing placed him at magna cum laude level.

They said completing the degrees required major sacrifices, including less weekend socialising, reduced time on social media, steady prayer and a disciplined fitness routine. Their day often begins around 4:30 a.m. with gym sessions before work, school duties and time with their children.

Tony-Ann continues to operate her home daycare business, while both are pursuing certifications and applying for jobs in their new field. They said their wider goal is to provide better opportunities for their children while staying connected to family in Jamaica.