Meet Jo-Ann May | Wife. Mother. Engineer. Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jo-Ann May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jo-Ann, what’s your definition for success?
For me, success is defined as having the freedom of time to be able to pursue interests, spend time with family and try new things while being financially secure and staying within the boundaries of the will of God for my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am by training an Auto Mechanic and Motorsport Engineer who is also creatively inclined…I sing and write. I received my Bachelor’s degree after four years of study in Coventry, England and was the first female to graduate the course of study at that university. While I had grand plans of becoming involved in Formula 1 racing, that didn’t pan out the way I expected and I came back home to Jamaica. After a few years I landed a job as a Mechanical Engineer at an LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) company where I spent five years before leaving to pursue creative interests. That’s when the book was birthed.

Living and studying in the UK was not an easy feat and came with a myriad of challenges ranging from culture shock to financial issues. It taught me that anything worth doing is difficult and without grit and perseverance, you won’t make it no matter how well intentioned. Face the challenges head on and work towards overcoming, it won’t be easy but it will be worth it and it makes for a great story after you’ve gotten past it.

My story is not unique in the sense that there are many foreign students who face similar challenges. In the same way, there are many women that have lived with insecurity for a very long time. Overcoming the issues, no matter what they are, takes work but the rewards are great. Do the same or similar issues arise from time to time…yes they do. However, each time they last for a shorter period and take longer to resurface and that’s how you know you’re making progress. Don’t give up!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would kick off the festivities with a stop at the patty shop to get authentic Jamaican patties before dropping them off at their hotel for the night. A late start to the following day would be necessary to ensure they are well rested and ready for the upcoming activities. A visit to local craft markets would provide and opportunity to get a few mementos and gifts for friends before the bustle of the next few days. A meal and a few drinks at Janga’s, an outdoor bar and restaurant would help refuel us and set the vibe for the days to come. We would get an early start to the next day as we head to Portland armed with sandwiches, snacks and a cooler full of ice and choice beverages. Winnifred beach as our destination, windows down, wind blowing through our hair and some good music from the 90’s and 2000’s playing in the background. Lunch would be at the famous Boston Jerk where the fare would consist of jerk chicken, pork and sausage with ‘hardo’ bread or festival as the sides of choice and a cold carbonated beverage or beer to wash it down. We would then head back to Kingston and have soup and salad for dinner with an ice cream cone or a sundae from Devon House to cap the evening off. The following day would be a trip to the other side of the island to Chukka adventures where we would do river tubing, ziplining and having fun racing ATVs. After a full day of fun, we would wrap up the evening in the hotel lobby bar with plans for a relaxing day by the pool to come. The next day would see us poolside with a few friends relaxing and playing games. Pizza, wings and burgers on the menu and drinks to cool down. The final day before the flight would see us making stops at some of the famous tourist stops in Kingston. The Bob Marley museum, Kingston Waterfront and National Stadium would be on the list of places to see before her flight the next day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My then mentor, Pastor Marsha Davidson who was there for me throughout the period of my divorce and helped speak life into me. Stacey, Rashida, Norris, Kenia to name a few of the friends who prayed with and for me, encouraged me, proofread the manuscript and nudged me in the right direction. My parents who were brave enough to have the difficult conversations around how I felt growing up and listened to my perspective on various events even going as far as apologizing for how some of those things impacted me. My best friend and current husband Craig for holding me while I cried and reassuring me that I wasn’t crazy and what I wanted wasn’t too much.