SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER, 2018 – UWI TODAY
5
R a y s h a w n
P i e r r e ,
o f
the Faculty of
H u m a n i t i e s
and Education,
graduated with
a BA in Theatre
Ar t s (Ma j or )
and Ca r n i v a l
Studies (Minor),
receiving First
Class Honours.
“ I am t he
second of five
ch i l d r e n and
humbly the first
to graduate from
higher education
from my family.
I g rew up i n
Tobago, where
my passion for
arts and culture
was ignited. I have
a three-year-old
daughter that I
gave birth to in
my first year of UWI, and she has been my driving force.
My family has been 100% supportive.
“I was guided to do the BA by my mentor and now
Head of Department, Louis Mc William, who has been
my inspiration since 2013, encouraging me to believe in
my abilities.
“Two things stand out for me from my UWI
experience. First, leading and directing a team of five
students to the Jamaica Tallahwah Festival, Jamaica, in
2017, where we represented theUWI andDCFA, copping
nine titles in the areas of storytelling, poetry and acting.
Second, being crowned Miss La Reine Rive 2017 in the
Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition and
having the support of my creative arts family.
“I want to be a part of the policy construction process
necessary for the development of our creative industry. I
am also passionate about Folk Art and Arts Education.”
Alicia Hosein,
of the Faculty
o f S o c i a l
S c i e n c e s ,
g r a d u a t e d
with a BSc in
Ps y c ho l o g y,
r e c e i v i n g
F i r s t C l a s s
Honours.
Alicia has
always wanted
to help other
peopl e. Par t
o f a c l o s e -
kn i t f ami l y,
A l i c i a w a s
rais ed in an
environment
that nurtured
kindness and
care for others.
So, when, as a
teenager, she
became active
on social media and learnt that many people her
own age suffered from depression and anxiety, she
wanted to do what she could to help. She developed
an interest in mental disorders; and she knew that
a future in psychology awaited.
Alicia has been involved in volunteer work
with the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the UWI
STA Behavioural Sciences Student Association
(a campus-based charity dedicated to serving
the poor), the Autistic Society of Trinidad and
Tobago, and the Cyril Ross Nursery’s Tutors for
Tots programme.
Alicia aims to become a child psychologist with
a focus on those who need such services but may
not have the finances to afford them, “so that all
children can have an equal opportunity to develop
into well-functioning citizens.”
V a n d a n a
Pe r s a d ,
o f
t he Facu lt y
o f Me d i c a l
S c i e n c e s ,
g r a d u a t e d
with a BSc in
Opt ome t r y,
r e c e i v i n g
Second Class
H o n o u r s
( U p p e r
Division).
“Iattended
N a p a r i m a
Gi r l s’ Hi gh
S c h o o l f o r
seven years,
after which I
attended the
University of
South Florida
where I earned
a degree in
BSc. Cell and
Mo l e c u l a r
Biology. Upon completion, I realized that I wanted to
be a part of the health care industry, which is what led
me to Optometry. I have a keen interest in research as I
believe that innovation in this field could help address
many of the eye-care issues facing our T&T health care
system.
“In my first year at the UWI, my colleagues and
I would all have picnics in the grassy area near to our
clinic. Although it sounds very simple, this is where we
discovered each other as friends and future colleagues.
It was a time where we had a lot more time available to
ourselves to relax and enjoy the simpler things in life.
“I plan to tackle each day as it comes and do one
good deed at a time. I intend to offer the best patient
carepossible toeachoneofmypatients andperhaps, one
day in thenot-too-distant future, opena comprehensive
eye care clinic. Obtaining my PhDmay be in the cards,
but we’ll see how life goes!”
Alicia Hosein
Social Sciences
October 26, 4pm ceremony
Rayshawn Pierre
Humanities & Education
October 27, 10am ceremony
Vandana Persad
Medical Sciences
October 27, 4pm ceremony
