Young tiler lays foundation for bright future

At just 11 years old, Jelani Walker is lining up tiles with the steady hand of someone far beyond his years.

In a TikTok video that has caught attention, he works with focus and precision, each piece falling perfectly into place.

The skill has been nurtured by his father, Andrew Walker, who has brought him along to job sites since he was just five years old. What began as simple observation has grown into something remarkable.

"I don't make him use certain tools, but he knows what to do," the senior Walker said. "Him can read the level, use the machines and can do him measurements. People always say by the time he reaches 17, he'll be a millionaire."

But Jelani's journey is not just about what he learns from his father -- it is also driven by his own curiosity. He watches, absorbs, and then goes even further, turning to YouTube to sharpen his skills and sometimes even teach his father new techniques.

"As an 11-year-old, him interest just very advanced," the father said.

Walker, 45, of Spanish Town, St Catherine, said he first noticed his son's determination at age seven.

"One day him come and ask if the tile cut good. Mi show him how fi power the cutter and him never stop until him get it right. Me did so surprised fi see seh him so determined to get it," the father said.

Today, Jelani's natural eye for detail sets him apart. Walker says his son can assess whether a structure is straight or uneven without even reaching for a measuring tool -- a skill some seasoned workers struggle to develop.

"As him grow mi not even haffi tell him what fi do. Him take up hammer and chisel and do things some workman can't do. Him can look at a building and tell you if it lean or square without even measuring it. That a when mi start realise how brilliant him is," Walker said.

Walker said his son's sharp eye and growing confidence have made him more than just an apprentice on the job site -- he is now a trusted observer. He explained that even among experienced tradesmen, Jelani is able to spot mistakes and speak up when something is not done properly.

Yet, even with such promise, Jelani remains grounded. A student of St Jago Preparatory School, he is excelling academically, maintaining strong grades while preparing for the Primary Exit Profile examinations, with dreams of attending Kingston College.

For Walker, who stopped attending school at grade nine, a sound education is non-negotiable.

"One day him ask me how much tiling pay, then him seh a tiling him want do like me. Mi tell him seh him fi go school and get an education," he said.

Walker's own path was far from smooth. He was expelled from school in third from, and raised without the steady presence of his parents. It was only through persistence, hard lessons, and the guidance of a determined stepfather that he found his footing.

"I feel proud of myself knowing that mi coulda be that father figure that pushed him to reach this stage where him have the opportunity to a education, and already on a good track to a solid skill. If I had that, me would be a giant," Walker said.

Now, he is determined to ensure his children stand even taller.

"I'm glad he can look up to me," Walker said of Jelani. "My stepfather pushed me, and now I push my children the same way."

Walker said his journey has taught him powerful lessons about fatherhood -- lessons he now feels compelled to share with other men.

"Mi nuh have nuh volume pon how important it is fi be in your children's life because it does make a difference," Walker said.

"It is not about money nor vanity, it is about time and love you show them. From your kids love you, them nah go want do nothing at all fi upset you or go the wrong path," he reasoned.