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American writer and novelist Jamaica Kincaid’s success doesn’t hinder her from continuing to learn and prosper.”Life is a continuous education,” Kincaid said. “We should continue to be enlightened. I, a teacher myself, still feel like a student.”

Kincaid was the keynote speaker at PCC’s 2010 Borders of Diversity Conference on Tuesday.

Following a brief introduction by Beverly Tate, the Dean of Athletics who assisted in running the conference, Kincaid spoke before a full audience of students, faculty, and other members of the PCC community in the Creveling Lounge.

Brought up in the island of Antigua, Kincaid spoke about her gradual interest in writing, which sprouted from her rebelliousness in school. It is through the school’s punishments that Kincaid would be exposed to literature works such as Paradise Lost and Jane Eyre.

The path to success, however, proved to be difficult as many insisted that she would not be able to climb the ranks of more prominent names of literature.

“Back then, I was taught that you can learn Shakespeare,” said Kincaid. “But you can never be Shakespeare.”

But with a motivation to write, Kincaid strived and is now the author of many published works.

“If you wish to do something, you must do it,” Kincaid said. “The beauty is not the money. It is the ability to do it.”

In addition to her rise as a writer, Kincaid discussed the change of her name. Originally Elaine Cynthia Potter Richardson, a fear of her family knowing that she was writing and the mere idea of her writing failing is what lead to the creation of her new name.

“I was 23 at the time,” she explained. “I wanted it to sound fashionable and had something to do with my writing.”

Eventually, after toying around with multiple combinations, she arrived at her destination: Jamaica Kincaid.

After Kincaid’s presentation, the English Department presented her with an exotic cactus for her birthday, which coincidentally, was the same day as the conference.

“This is lovely!” she was heard saying as she held the pot in her hands.

To conclude the presentation, the audience sang Happy Birthday before sending her off to the autograph stand.

“She’s inspiring, intelligent, and definitely gives a different perspective of life experiences,” said Environmental Law major, Kilada Malloy. “It’s through her that I’m learning to just basically focus on my talents.”

Carrie Afuso, a coordinator of the conference, added that it was a “wonderful reality and a unique perspective of life.”

“The fact is that she writes to live,” said Afuso. “It’s such a refreshing sense of self development.”

An advocate of education and learning, Kincaid said that teachers must communicate with students.

As for Kincaid’s ever growing list of published work, she doesn’t plan on stopping.

“I have more pleasure in writing something than finishing,” Kincaid said.

“There’s really no process to my inspiration . unless of course, hallucinogens.” she joked.

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