G Mac completes UWI studies - Artiste encourages colleagues to seek higher education

After recently graduating from the University of the West Indies, where he studied cinematography, reggae-dancehall entertainer G Mac is encouraging fellow artistes to seek higher education.

The entertainer told THE WEEKEND STAR that having gone through the rigorous tertiary education system, he knows a balance between career and school is attainable.

"Having gone through the process myself, I can say it's difficult, but it's also achievable. As artistes, we have to start making education a priority. Many persons do not expect us to be educated on a certain level, but things and times have changed and continue to change. We have to be able to keep up with those changes and education is the way," he said. "I want to be an inspiration to other artistes. We can go to school and still have a career in music. In fact, a higher education can help you become better business persons and your career will benefit from that. Higher education is a must."

The Love Your Life singer covered studies in the making of documentaries, short films, commercials, script writing, marketing and production, editing and audio.

He says he wants to put his education to good use by launching his own media company.

"I decided on this course because I wanted to understand the business. I knew I wanted to do more in the industry outside of a recording artiste and I wanted to have the documentation to show that I have all the knowledge and skills to venture into whatever field I decided on," he said. "A man can't get up and say him a doctor and just operate on people, so professionals in the music business should be certified in whatever field they're working in. It definitely works in music's best interest that way. Now that I have graduated, I'm looking forward to putting the knowledge I gained in school to good use and, hopefully, the industry will benefit."

G Mac said that he had to postpone his European tour during his studies.

"I was also working on albums with More Love Music from Italy, and Askel from Vision House, and I had to delay those as well. But I wanted to graduate so I have no regrets," he said, indicating that the road won't be easy but it will be worth it.

"I gained so much experience and now I have a good network in the business. Now that school is behind me, I can focus on those music projects in 2020 and with the knowledge I now have, things can only get better," he said.