As the University of Guyana (UG) gears up for its 2024 Convocation ceremonies, two women who embody perseverance are set to walk the graduation stage.
Jean Hanoman and Franka Thomas who have been featured on UG’s Facebook page, “challenge societal norms and expectations” the university said, and will graduate with distinction. Both have earned bachelor’s degrees; Hanoman in Inter-national Relations and Thomas in Public Management.
Hanoman, who is in her mid-60s, told UG that she faced skepticism when she decided to pursue her degree. According to the article, people asked her if she was mad, because of her age. But education was not just a personal goal; it symbolized a triumph over historical oppression, she told the interviewer. “The tears and sacrifices of our grandmothers and mothers paved the way for us to stand tall, proud, and empowered,” she was quoted as saying. Her journey, the article stated, served as a powerful reminder that learning is a lifelong pursuit, irrespective of age.
It stated that Thomas’s path was equally challenging. Orphaned at two, she later dropped out of secondary school, and subsequently became a mother of four. Yet her dreams never wavered. “It’s not where you start that matters, but where you end that counts,” she was quoted as saying.
Both women found crucial support throughout their academic journeys. Hanoman receiv-ed vital encouragement from dedicated lecturers, UG noted. “Age was never noticed,” she was quoted as saying. “We are all one age group here—eighteen to eighty.” She highlighted the mentorship of professors like Dr Coreen Jacobs and Queenella Cameron, who provided guidance and motivation beyond the classroom.
Thomas told the interviewer that she was initially overwhelmed by university life, but drew strength from her faith and the camaraderie of her peers. Following a series of personal tragedies, including the loss of her brother, father, and son, she relied on the support of her groupmates to navigate her studies. “Their empathy carried me through moments when I wanted to quit,” she was quoted as saying. The bittersweet moment of being named to the Dean’s Honour List brought her immense pride.
“The degree you earn today is not just a personal achievement; it symbolizes the progress made by those who fought before us,” Hanoman was quoted as saying, encouraging women. Meanwhile, Thomas statef, “If I can do it, so can you! Never give up on your dreams because dreams do come true.”
These women’s stories, UG said, illustrate that education knows no boundaries, and opens new opportunities for all, regardless of age or circumstance. Balancing motherhood, grief, and societal doubt, they showed that success is defined by the courage to persist, the university said.
