A journey that began in Kingston has taken Shamire Boyd to the deck of one of the world’s most powerful naval vessels.

The sailor, who graduated from Excelsior High School in 2010, is serving in the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, a massive aircraft carrier operating out of Norfolk, Virginia. He says the experiences and challenges that shaped his early life helped prepare him for the discipline, responsibility and determination required in the navy.

“Growing up, I worked a lot of jobs,” Boyd said. “Life was rough, which taught me that you’ve got to reach for your goals. I got my first job when I was 17. I came to the US when I was 20 and worked in New York, then I joined the navy when I was 30. That taught me to work hard to achieve my goals.”