Like many other students, 16-year-old Vishnu Surendra of Queenstown, Region Two, was balancing studies with his commitments outside of school as he prepared to write this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Unlike many of them, however, his life outside of school involved managing the Queenstown Gyaan Sagar Mandir, where he is priest-in-charge after becoming enamoured with Hinduism at a tender age.
Despite his responsibilities, Surendra emerged as one of top CSEC students in both Essequibo and the country. He earned 14 grade ones, 2 grade twos, and a grade three.
During an interview with Stabroek News, Surendra related that leading up to the examinations it became challenging for him to meet deadlines for his assignments and also manage the mandir.