On October 22, 2008 DeAzha Chambers interviewed her mother, Mrs. Jackqueline (Jackie) Barnett, about Berkeley in the "old days".

DeAzha: Good day, Mrs. Barnett, and how are you today?

Jackie: I am fine thank you.

DeAzha: That's good. I just want to take a little bit of your time, if you don't mind of course, and interview you because, as we both know, you were a "Berkeleyite," a proud one at that, right?

Jackie: Yes I am, that is why I'm very excited that I have my twins attending the Berkeley.

DeAzha: Great! May I ask, when did you graduate from the Berkeley Institute?

Jackie: July of 1980.

DeAzha: Wow! Back then, what subjects were taken and what were your most and least favourite subjects?

Jackie: Math was my least favourite-trigonometry and geometry; I liked Algebra and basic Math, English Language and English Literature, Spanish, all the sciences and gym.

DeAzha: What extra-curricular activities were you involved in?

Jackie: Netball, softball, Home Economics, and Yearbook Committee.

DeAzha: What are your positive memories of The Berkeley Institute?

Jackie: No matter what parish we came from, all walks of life, we ALL got along, and even though the school was strict on rules, those very rules made me a better person today.

DeAzha: What are your negative memories of Berkeley?

Jackie: I don't recall any negative, only peer pressure, occasionally, but nothing I couldn't handle.

DeAzha: How well did Berkeley prepare you for the future?

Jackie: Very well. For one, they always reinforced that education was the key. Berkeley was a stepping stone for me to attend university to broaden my education experience. Even though I did not complete my "Bachelor of Science" degree in Business, the knowledge I gained enabled me to be a successful, career-minded black woman in today's society.

DeAzha: How has Berkeley changed from when you were there compared to how I'm there?

Jackie: When I attended the Berkeley Institute, there were not many people of [different] colour and cultures attending. To see students of all racial and cultural backgrounds is a beautiful thing.

Secondly, when I attended, we never had the opportunity of being given such a fine facility to learn in, and to be taught in, so for the students of today, be thankful not only for the physical facility but the choice of subjects to learn from. We had a curriculum that was never as vast as yours.

When I attended school there was never a need for Security or Lockdowns. We would never think of stepping out line for fear of getting trouble with Mr. Horton which was worse than today.

DeAzha: Do you have any advice for a new "Berkeleyite"?

Jackie: Always beat the tune to your own drum. Be your own leader. Don't follow the crowd. You are there to learn for a better future not to play around, waste time and build a bad reputation, which would prohibit your future. Be the best for you, don't allow people's opinions of your zeal to learn affect who you want to become. BE YOU, LIVE IN YOUR OWN SHADOW. These days are your best days, make the best of them!!!!

DeAzha: Thank you for your time mama in having this interview. It's greatly appreciated.

Jackie: Anytime Azh!