As a child, I gazed out of the car window, my eyes wide with wonder, every time my father drove me and my sister to Tunapuna. There it was, showing from the highway — the UWI sign with the green plants peeking out from a wire mesh. That place, a promise of knowledge and discovery, fascinated me. I vowed silently, "One day, those hallowed halls will be mine."
My journey to UWI was deeply personal, marked by my father’s sacrifice of his own university education to support our family when I was born. This legacy fuelled my determination to not only attend UWI, but to excel there. In August 1994, my father dropped me off at Trinity Hall, where I spent the next few years forming meaningful friendships with students from across the Caribbean. Life at T-Hall was vibrant, filled with fun, pranks, and friendly rivalry with Canada Hall, including playful confrontations like my near-dunking into the campus fountain.
As an undergraduate in Natural Sciences, I specialised in Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry. Despite academic challenges, including a tough Mathematics (M10A) course with Dr Morris, I persevered. Influential professors like Dr Maxwell, Dr Maharaj, and Dr Richard Thompson shaped my learning. Paying for my degree meant failure wasn’t an option, and I only failed one chemistry course in my first semester. Who could forget the lecturers’ strike in our final year? However, exams proceeded as scheduled. Talk about stress.
In my final year, a World of Work seminar inspired me to pursue an International MBA, but financial constraints led me to follow my father’s footsteps into teaching. Despite the challenges and stress associated with teaching, I returned to UWI in 2001 for a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. This demanding programme required perseverance, and I met Dr Susan Herbert, my influential chemistry supervisor, who would be instrumental later in my UWI story.
As if I did not have enough torture, in 2008, with financial assistance from the Government’s “Dollar for Dollar Programme”, I finally registered for the IMBA programme. By this time, I knew that I had become an addict to this institution called UWI. This programme was demanding but rewarding. I valued its collaborative nature, which helped me gain the confidence and skills that have shaped my teaching career. This experience left a lasting impact on me. I later encouraged my son to attend the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business to pursue the BISB programme in its inaugural year.
In 2015, I began the most challenging Master’s in Education (MEd) programme with a focus on Curriculum. Despite personal and professional challenges, including the theft of my vehicle days before first-year, I excelled. I took some time off next semester to get my son through his final CAPE exams and obtain a vehicle.
The journey took a more emotional turn when my father passed away on September 30, 2016, profoundly affecting my sense of purpose. The loss led to a temporary hiatus from the MEd programme. I eventually returned, completing all exams in 2020. I had my thesis seminar on February 18, 2020 which I passed, but the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed my progress. As the country came to a crashing halt, so did I.
Despite frustration and doubt, my “keep moving forward” philosophy, inspired by the cartoon movie Meet the Robinsons and support from friends and faculty kept me motivated. Graduating in 2024 demonstrates that no obstacle is too large, and with God and good support, success is always possible
My journey highlights the value of perseverance, friendship, and supportive lecturers. Key figures like my childhood science teacher and then lecturer at UWI School of Education, Professor Jerome De Lisle, and university lecturers Dr Susan Herbert, Dr Beulah Mitchell, Dr Benignus Bitu, Dr Sharmila Harry, Dr Madgerie Jameson-Charles, and my supervisor, Dr Joanne Nazir, played crucial roles in my success and strengthened my resolve to continue teaching.
This journey was long and challenging, but it left me with lasting memories, friendships, and a profound sense of accomplishment. (PSST. I have never collected my caution money because I know I always keep coming back.)
For more graduation stories in students' own words, visit medium.com/@uwisocialmedia.
