Once in a while, a story comes along that defies expectations and leaves us in awe. The story of Master Musician Calvin Parker: a producer, sound engineer, pianist, schoolteacher, devoted husband, and proud father is one such tale. In today’s fast-paced world balancing many hats can be a daunting task. Despite juggling multiple roles, Parker recently achieved an impressive milestone - he pursued a Master of Science degree in Entertainment Business & Sports Management and earned the Valedictorian award. This award is proof of his commitment to excellence.
“The process was grueling but very rewarding,” he shared. “It challenged and surprised me because even though I had done some online courses previously, this would have been my first time being fully engaged online.” Parker described the workload as intense due to having been out of the academic arena for quite some years. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees can both be credited to Full Sail University in Florida.
“It was a challenging journey, but I enjoyed every moment of it,” he said. Parker’s pursuit of excellence proves that with hard work and dedication, dreams do indeed come true.
Parker's journey from start to finish was propelled by his intense passion for his family and his determination to create a meaningful legacy. It was this God-given drive that became the power behind his achievement. “I still don’t know how I did it yet,” he said. Parker was managing multiple life transitions at the time, including adapting to married life and preparing for fatherhood. As a full-time music and math teacher, Parker also had additional responsibilities as a creative entrepreneur, producer, and sound engineer. Additionally, he serves as a pianist at one of the local Anglican churches in the Bahamas. Despite the many roles he had to fulfill, Parker was able to excel in all areas of his life.
“I really did it for my wife and my son,” he said. “My wife really believed I could do it.” Parker’s support system was crucial to his success and his firm devotion remained grounded in his legacy.
“My goals were to be Valedictorian and win the Advanced Achiever Award,” he said. “I had just recently had my son and I wanted to have footage that showed him exactly what his dad did,” Parker shared. “I want him to be able to say, if his dad could do it then so could he.” Parker emphasized that his family is at the heart of every decision he makes, and they serve as the driving force behind his aspirations.
"Now that I have a family of my own, my goals are focused on my family's well-being. I'm no longer working for myself, but rather to place my family in the best position possible, providing my children with everything they need so that they never lack anything," Parker stated. "This is how I approach everything I do now, with a family-oriented mindset."
Parker gave a glimpse of the many responsibilities he successfully juggled at the time. "Meeting deadlines, studying, researching, ensuring the bills were paid, and making sure I spent time with my wife and son," he shared. "Even financially it was a sacrifice because it was a costly venture. It was hard amidst a pandemic. Also, my wife and I had just been blessed with a new addition to the family," he shared. "Despite the challenges, my wife was incredibly supportive, even when it meant I had to lock myself in our room to complete work and meet deadlines."
Parker provided valuable advice to those who are looking to pursue a similar path. “I would say, have faith in God and do what you must do because faith without works is dead. I had faith but still had to put in the work, which ultimately made my journey possible to go from the beginning to the end.” Parker also emphasizes the importance of reading, researching, and networking, enabling individuals to engage in intelligent conversations regarding their respective fields of interest.
Parker is constantly expanding his horizons and making progress, as he has numerous projects in the pipeline. He stated, "I'm working on advancing my entertainment company, Architectz Entertainment, which encompasses music, sports, film, television, and management. The company's aim is to create opportunities for people in the Caribbean to compete globally."
Parker is a fervent supporter of Caribbean athletes and students, advocating for their talents and skills to be recognized on an international level. "I want people in the Caribbean to have the same access to markets as those in the United States and Europe and to compete seamlessly with them in the same spaces," he said. Parker cites Name, Image, and Likeness programs introduced by international colleges as an example. His objective is to create similar programs and opportunities for Caribbean students and athletes.
This Caribbean giant is a shining example of how passion can fuel the seemingly impossible. "I set goals that I believe I can achieve and work towards them as best I can. I must achieve them," said Parker. Despite managing multiple responsibilities, he accomplished what many might consider unattainable. His journey was challenging, but the outcomes were remarkable and inspiring. This industry titan has demonstrated his value and revealed exactly what is at the core of his capacity: EXCELLENCE.