Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.’s recent call for Virgin Islanders in the diaspora to “come home” and help build a stronger territory is heartfelt. His appeal taps into a deep connection to the place that raised me — the soil where my dreams first took root. But while his vision is noble, the reality on the ground demands a more grounded conversation.
Yes, my dreams began in the Virgin Islands. The culture, the community, the struggle — they shaped my resilience, and my unshakable determination. But it was the mainland that gave me the tools to succeed: with a veteran’s journey, a doctorate in education, and a career dedicated to service. These achievements weren’t handed to me — they were built through sacrifice, and they now equip me with the skills and experience to give back meaningfully to the place where I was born.
And I will give back. I will use every skill I’ve earned to contribute to the Virgin Islands — to empower, to support, and to uplift. But I will also return to my comfort, because I’ve earned it.
The truth is that many of us left not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. I was sent to the states for a better life after completing Wayne Aspinall Jr. High. And while the governor highlights new initiatives — free college, housing support, and healthcare expansion — these are only part of the picture. The territory still faces systemic challenges: limited job markets, high living costs, failing infrastructure, gun violence (July 8, 2024 at Brewers Bay), and deep economic instability. Virgin Islands not all so nice.
So the question becomes: return to what? Will we find employment? Or are we expected to invest personal resources into a system not yet ready to support sustainability? Most Virgin Islanders at home are already stretched thin — struggling to afford housing, food, and medical care. These are not conditions that attract return — they are conditions that push people away.
Still, my heart is tethered to the Virgin Islands. I will come home to teach, to support, to give. I can mentor, I can use my background in workforce development, I can teach résumé and interview skills to give back to the community.
But I will not stay in hardship for the sake of sentiment. I will always return to the life I’ve built — a life that allows me to contribute from a place of strength.
Because loving home doesn’t mean abandoning everything you’ve worked for. It means honoring your roots while walking forward with purpose.
I haven’t forgotten where I came from. And I haven’t stopped giving. But I’m giving from where I can thrive — and for me, that means going home to help, and returning to the comfort I earned with no love lost!
— June Bridges, Palm Beach County, Florida, holds both a master’s and doctorate in education (curriculum, instruction and technology). She is a U.S. Army veteran and has served the federal government for the past 22 years. Her background is in training, workforce development/employee development, curriculum development and technology skills. Though all of her professional blessings and accomplishments were cultivated stateside, the manifestations of her dreams and aspirations began on the island of St. Thomas, which she knew from early childhood would be limited.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
