The University of Guyana (UG) proudly celebrated its 57th convocation from November 9 to 11, hailing the 3,000-odd graduates that marked fresh milestones in their lives. It was doubly pleased with the six graduates highlighted below, as they were the first in their families to acquire a university education.
In a press release issued yesterday, UG lauded first generation graduates Delon Northe, Keyola McQueen, Abdul Subhan, Trevor Thomas, Miles J Munroe, and Nickeshia Sampson.
Delon Northe
Northe, a resident of New Amsterdam, graduated with a Diploma in Public Management, UG said..
Northe explained that his academic journey was not always a smooth ride as he was forced to cope with many challenges along the way. “I faced many challenging times, but I endured. This is quite an accomplishment and I am grateful for all the support I received from my family, friends, lectures and many others who have contributed to my success,” he was quoted as saying. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude, I am now able to further develop myself and better serve my country,” he said.
Keyola McQueen
McQueen was conferred with the Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science on November 10, the release said. She aspires to become a pathologist.
McQueen said the loss of her grandmother to a rare form of cancer a few years ago was tough for her to deal with, but helped her in the decision she made to go after a career in pathology as she initially wanted to do medicine. “Now that I have my degree, I can explore all the options before me to further develop myself,” she was quoted as saying.
Abdul Subhan
Subhan, who hails from Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Accord-ing to the release, he said: “Being the first in my family to graduate from the University of Guyana is a wonderful accomplishment. I was given the opportunity that my parents didn’t get and I am very grateful. It’s an honour to set a standard for future generations in my family, and I hope to inspire them to pursue their educational goals and strive for success.”
The 21-year-old pledged that he will use the knowledge and new qualifications gained to make a positive difference in his family and community, it added.
In addition to being thankful to his family and friends, he said he was also very grateful to UG, as the institution has not only provided him with a strong academic foundation but has also instilled in him “good qualities of resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning,” the release said.
Trevor Thomas
Thomas, who hails from Kamarang, Upper Maza-runi, in Region Seven graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy on November 10, UG said.
The 36-year-old said that he always wanted to excel in his academic endeavours for he was sure that only by acquiring a good education would he be able to achieve his career dreams, it added.
Thomas, a proud father of two, started his academic journey at UG in 2018 and found that the road to academic success was not always easy, but with the support of many, including his family, friends and lecturers, he was able to successfully complete his studies in spite of all the odds he faced, the release stated.
Miles J Munroe
Munroe, 25, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management on November 10, He is the eldest of four siblings and the father of one daughter, the release said.
His academic journey at UG taught him how to persevere in spite of facing severe obstacles. “As I entered my last year, I became a father, which was a joyous experience and it really increased my drive to succeed. I had planned to take a year off, but my young child gave me the motivation and fortitude to finish my journey in order to make her proud,” he was quoted as saying
Munroe who serves as a legal clerk at the Guyana Revenue Authority said that he intends to keep on furthering his studies so that he will be the best he can be in his professional career, the release said.
Nickeshia Sampson
Sampson graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science in Public Management on November 11, the release said. The 28-year-old mother of one who is currently a UG staff member, said that her biggest motivation was her desire to qualify herself so that she would be able to excel at her career. She recalled that her academic journey at UG was very tough as she was forced to grapple with work and studying at the same time. However, she added that she took advantage of every opportunity that came her way to develop herself, the release said.
“My experience at the university has shaped the way I communicate with those at different academic and professional levels. Additionally, I can now sit in a room filled with persons of all walks of life and know that I deserve to be there and have an opinion. My degree enhanced my self-confidence academically.
“As a student, I battled with self-confidence in the beginning. When I wrote an essay or term paper, I was scared that it wouldn’t be enough. Now I have the confidence that I can be anything I want to be. I will use the exposure at UG and try my best to make a positive difference in my workplace and my country as a whole,” she was quoted as saying.
