For as long as he can remember Ajamu Crosby has enjoyed learning about how things work and how natural principles could be applied to improve life.
This curiosity together with a strong work ethic has earned Crosby an additional scholarship in 2016 and an undergraduate degree with honours for mechanical engineering from the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine, in 2021.
These achievements have led to him being featured in the Newsday on two occasions.
Crosby is also a proud native of Beetham Gardens and says while his environment and circumstances have not discouraged him, he has had to learn many difficult lessons through trial and error and hopes to pave the way to others in need of guidance with his autobiography.
Crosby, 24, who now works as an engineer for the Ministry of Works and Transport says he shifted his attention from designs and calculations to writing after seeing firsthand the positive response his story generated.
"I felt like I had so much more information to share with the public, so I wanted to dive deeper into the mindset I had to develop and touch on the influences I had and what shaped that mentality."
[caption id="attachment_949079" align="alignnone" width="998"] Ajamu Crosby's book Jams Effect describes his journey through the education system and includes principles of physics and mathematics and how they can be applied to everyday life. - PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI[/caption]
Beginning last May Crosby began writing the first draft of his autobiography – Jams Effect – consisting of his experiences, thoughts, ideas and dreams.
Included in this first draft were the challenges he faced including not only the perceptions others had of him as a Beetham resident but also finding the drive to continue in the face of adversity.
Describing the autobiography as being more of a "self-help" book at certain points, Crosby says while academics is a focus of the book, it is a framing device and insists the overall message of perseverance and discipline can be applied to any situation.
Crosby said he completed the first draft of Jams Effect last November.
To make this deadline Crosby would have spent every available hour not only writing but also researching the mechanics of publishing a book in TT.
"Researching information on self-publishing how it works in Trinidad, the ISBN numbers, going through Nalis and all the different processes you have to go through to publish a book for yourself in Trinidad, that was the hardest part.
"There was also the hours and sleepless nights of research while maintaining a job during the day was the recipe for me to complete this book.."
Despite these challenges, Crosby said he was heartened by the overall positive reception of the first readers.
He says while the official date of Jams Effect's launch was on March 28, 100 copies of the book were made available to relatives and close friends, who were essential in helping him along the way.
"Wh
