Sherwin Nicholson, a 34-year-old teacher of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, has been named the University of Guyana Berbice Campus’ (UGBC) Best Graduating Student for the academic year 2023/24. Nicholson, who teaches at the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), was formally recognized during UGBC’s 23rd Convocation ceremony on November 16, 2024 based on a press release shared by the University of Guyana.
Nicholson, who earned a perfect GPA of 4.0, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, concentrating in Mathematics. His remarkable achievement places him at the forefront of this year’s cohort of graduates, many of whom will also be honoured for their outstanding academic performances, the release said.
Nicholson’s academic success is all the more inspiring considering the challenges he faced along the way, the release added. Reflecting on his early experiences, he shared how his journey to academic excellence was far from smooth. “When I first sat for my CSEC Mathematics exam, I never imagined I would fail,” Nicholson was quoted as saying. The failure was a devastating setback, especially for a young man whose parents had made significant sacrifices to ensure he and his siblings received a good education, the release said.
However, instead of allowing this early failure to define him, he took it as a learning opportunity. “That failure became a turning point. I saw it not as a setback but as a chance to grow and push myself harder,” the release quoted him as saying. He retook the exam, ultimately earning better results.
“What matters most is not how many times we fall, but how we rise and keep going,” he was further quoted as saying.
His decision to pursue higher education at UGBC was motivated by his passion for teaching and his desire to positively impact the lives of his students. The proximity of the campus, coupled with its reputation for quality education, made UGBC the ideal choice for him, the release stated.
As a full-time teacher, newly married, and a student, Nicholson had to juggle multiple responsibilities. He recalled how challenging it was to balance his teaching duties, online lectures, assignments, and family life. “There were moments when the pressure felt overwhelming. Preparing lessons, grading assessments, studying for exams, and completing my own assignments at the same time—sometimes it felt like too much,” he was quoted as admitting.
In those challenging times, he found strength in his support system. “The thought of my long-term goals kept me going. But most importantly, the unwavering support from my wife, family, and friends gave me the foundation I needed to keep pushing forward,” the release quoted him as saying.
Being named the best graduating student at UGBC has been an emotional milestone. Nicholson called it “humbling and overwhelming” the release said. “This achievement is not just for me, but also for my family. It’s the culmination of all the sacrifices, hard work, and perseverance that have been invested in this journey,” he said, according to the release.
It added that among the others honoured at the convocation ceremony are: Ashmini Prashad, Second Best Graduating Student; Yadram Totaram, Best Graduating Student in the Diploma/Certificate/Associate Degree programmes; Manisha Sagadaya, recipient of the Director, UGBC Award for best contribution in university activities. In addition, various students from different disciplines received divisional prizes for the highest GPAs in Agriculture, Education and Humanities, Medical Sciences, and Business Innovation.
