Jamaican graduate top of medical class in China

As someone accustomed to topping his class, 24-year-old Orbin Barnes never imagined that he, as a young Jamaican studying medicine in China, would graduate as valedictorian and deliver his graduation speech in Mandarin.

“I’m surrounded by really brilliant students so I would never imagine that I would top the batch,” he said. Barnes, who hails from Negril, Westmoreland, said his journey to medicine was shaped by a fascination with science, even though he was initially uncertain about which career path to pursue.

“While in high school, I had an interest in math and just figuring out stuff, but I also had a love for science and engineering. But my love for science grew more when I approached the later years of fifth form when I grew more curious about the human anatomy and certain diseases,” he said.

The defining moment, he recalled, came unexpectedly while scrolling through YouTube.

“I randomly saw a [video] saying what’s it like a day in the life of a doctor and I watched and pictured myself doing something like this where I can just help people. So I was like, ‘Yes OK’,” he recalled.

After heavy reflection, Barnes admitted he initially resisted pursuing medicine because his older brother, who is currently a doctor, had already chosen the profession.

“But I couldn’t resist anymore,” Barnes shared with a laugh.

After spending seven years at Munro College, Barnes left with nine CSEC subjects and CAPE Units One and Two. As he prepared for university, however, the COVID-19 pandemic created uncertainty about where he would continue his education.

“So I just sent out a lot of applications with the hope that later down I would be able to make that decision. I sent out several applications to Cuba, Russia, China and here in Jamaica,” he said.

Although he received an offer to study medicine at The University of the West Indies, Barnes said studying overseas made more financial sense for his family, especially with his older brother already enrolled at the institution.

“And I am more extroverted, so I didn’t mind studying abroad,” he said.

He eventually accepted an offer from Jinzhou Medical University in China and, already experienced with boarding school at Munro College, Barnes said the move overseas did not intimidate him.

“My parents were supportive so when I told them, they funded my study there for the six years, which is five years in class and then that one-year internship period,” he said.

However, his journey began in his bedroom in Negril as border restrictions forced him to spend nearly two years studying online before travelling to China.

“With coronavirus in 2020, I was to depart in October, that’s in the middle of it. So I was studying in Jamaica because of border restrictions. So fortunately I was online learning Mandarin, and at times, that was demotivating practising in my room and then everything else was patois. So I know being in the space would help.”

Once he got to China, Barnes quickly realised that simply learning basic Mandarin would not be enough, so he dedicated time to master the language.

“My Chinese friends helped me a lot. I used my phone and I had an adviser who is proficient in Mandarin and English and they explained everything.”

While adapting to a new language and culture, Barnes said that he was laser focused on excelling academically. Looking back, the registered medical doctor credits the Jamaican education system.

“It prepares us to be critical thinkers and not to swat information. So exams came with challenges but it was quite okay so I had no issues with exams.”

As the years progressed, Barnes realised graduating as valedictorian was within reach.

“So in the finals exam now, to certify you as a medical doctor, that was the last thing I had to master to be the valedictorian, and I did it and scored the highest.”

Barnes said he tried to keep the news from his parents in hopes of surprising them, but admitted he could not hold out for long. His mother and brother travelled to China in June to witness him graduate and deliver his speech in Mandarin, while his father watched proudly from Jamaica. Barnes said the magnitude of his accomplishment finally began to settle in.