Matriculation is a sacred ceremony for universities. It’s where every new student is formally recognised by the institution. Yet, for this year’s top matriculant, Joshua Sampath, being selected from among the many came as a shock.
“It wasn’t something I was expecting. I thought that there is better out there,” he said, attributing his selection as top matriculant to “hard work, focus, and consistency”.
Joshua decided to pursue a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering due to his passion for computers from a young age. He said that his love for disassembling electronics, programming and problem-solving cemented his decision.
Like many new university students, adapting to an independent, young-adult lifestyle has been challenging. He said when he was still living under his parents’ roof, there was always a fallback in the event of an emergency. Living on his own means that he now shoulders more personal responsibility and accountability.
But he is driven by his love for studying and understanding difficult subjects, which fuels his passion for problem-solving in the face of hardship.
“I really enjoy the process of learning as a whole. I like to go back, understand the proofs, understand why that is that.”
He competed in this year’s Trinidad and Tobago Mathematics Olympiad, where he reached the second round, and he also participated in the Junior category of the 2025 Fermat Mathematical Olympiad (FMO). His enthusiasm also extends to assisting others. He was involved in the Big Brother Programme at his alma mater in San Fernando, Presentation College, tutoring younger students.
Joshua said that his life goals include being involved in the technology sector, where he can contribute to the automation of various sectors in society. He sees himself working with the controls sector; a thematic area of study that involves the management of the flow of devices in areas such as electrical grids or buildings’ machinery.
“I’m trying to embrace everything that life has to offer,” he said. “This new venture for me, moving to university, has been a different experience. I have a lot more flexibility when it comes to schedules and choices, but I’m trying to remain positive and just navigate through this.”
Interviewed before matriculation, Joshua said that he was looking forward to the ceremony and meeting his fellow matriculants. While he may be the top entrant, he was humbled by the thought of meeting his peers when they took part in the symbollic signing of the Academic Registrar.
