It was American Poet Maya Angelou who said, “You may encounter many defeats in life, but you must not be defeated.” Alicia is a true representation of that quote, as she faced many defeats in life, but she rose, like a Phoenix after.
Alicia McAlmon-Sears was born on 8th April 1981 to Patsy Wade and Patrick McAlmon and was the fourth of six children.
Sears hails from Yeoville Village West Coast, Berbice (Region 5 – Mahaica/Berbice) and grew up with her parents and siblings. She described her childhood as fun and exciting, as she played many outdoor games (such as sal), had many backdam & waterside trips and cookouts with her cousins and siblings.
Her mom, Patsy Wade, was always big on education and that had a lasting impact on Sears and her siblings.
She is also a Christian by religion. At a tender age, she became an usher and Sunday school teacher, teaching biblical principles to youths.
As for education, she attended Lichfield Primary and Belladrum Secondary, where she completed her CXC. Further, she went on to pursue tertiary education at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), where she copped a diploma in Agricultural Machinery. After NATI, she was unable to find a job in the field she was trained in and in an effort to support herself, she was employed by Guyana Water Inc (GWI) as a field assistant, where she worked for approximately two years.
She was described as a multi passionate person who loved engineering, health care, braiding, nails and culinary skills.
As a child, she loved braiding hairs and attempted many times on her siblings and relatives. As she grew older, she worked alongside a relative and a friend where she did braiding and nails.
With a passion for education and changing her family narrative, Alicia pursued training in health care, at St. John’s Brigade. Further, Sears pursued computer-based certifications at Computer World and then at Carnegie School of Home Economics.
At the Carnegie School of Home Economics, she studied Cosmetology, Elementary Cake and pastries, advanced cakes and pastries and advanced cake and decoration.
Alicia with her platter of finished products at Carnegie School of Home Economics.
In 2013, She copped a distinction and was awarded the most outstanding student in general cosmetology.
When asked about her culinary skills, she mentioned, “My mom was an excellent cook and baker. She taught us everything… In my younger days, mom would give us flour dough, which we’d use to practise baking.
There were days when my sisters and I would practise cooking. I recall my late older sister and I making dhal puri, for church as my mom wasn’t home to do so… However, I went to Carnegie to learn more and improve my skills. As for cake decoration, I started out by making and icing cakes for my immediate family and a few friends.”
Sears told this publication that she always wanted to have her own business and be her own boss.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” In achieving her dreams, she faced many challenges, but that did not deter her in utilising her skills to make an income. She registered and launched a business, located at Yeoville, where she practised cosmetology as well as cake decoration.
About a year after launching her business, she got married to Mr. Heron Sears and they lived as a happy couple. Even after she got married and became a housewife, she continued her business, to support herself and family.
In 2018, tragedy struck, when what was to be an adventurous crab-hunting trip with her husband, became catastrophic as her husband, Heron drowned at the MMA/ADA Sluice, making her a widow. With support from her immediate family and a few close friends, Sears was able to cope with the death of her husband.
After the death of her husband, Sears worked part-time as an instructor at the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
“In August, 2019, via the Regional Democratic Council(RDC) Region 5 Education Department, I taught cake decoration to youths in Region 5. Later in that year, I became a part-time instructor, teaching cosmetology at Carnegie in the evenings,” she said.
Today she is gainfully employed by the Ministry of Health, where she now works as a field assistant attached to the Vector Control Department in Region 5.
One of Sears’s biggest challenges is time management, as she works and manages both aspects of her business.
“Being an entrepreneur means you have to do everything for your business.. Preparing orders, managing social media and/or queries and so much more. Luckily, my nephew assists periodically especially in marketing, as well as my mom. In the future, I hope to rebrand and work on my business.”
“If God is for us, who can be against us,” is a scripture from the Bible that keeps her going. “Trust God, work hard and believe in your dreams. Nothing is impossible,” is her advice to young entrepreneurs. In the future, Sears would like to further her studies and expand her business.
