Student by day; security guard at nights  

– Berbice Farm girl toiled for her ‘Agri’ Degree 

On the successful completion of secondary school, many students would deem their toil finally over, and may either take a break from academia, or seek immediate employment.

While there is no error in judgment there, others like Ms. Ernestine Ruby Sandy, would see the end of that phase as a mere preparation for further learning, which would warrant more mental fortitude and steadfastness.

The meek “country girl” enlisted in the University of Guyana, in 2016 following her five-year stint at the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI). After toughing out that four-year period, “Ruby”, as she is fondly called, was able to clinch her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture.

Notwithstanding the exhilaration occasioned by such significant accomplishment, a rather humble Ruby in retrospect, summed up her tenure at the country’s premier tertiary institution as testing, primarily due to financial constraints- a story identical to that of many past and current students.

“UG was challenging because I am from a single parent household. My sister was in college and my other sister was in high school, so mom had a lot on her plate,” she told the Village Voice News in an interview.

Taking her mother’s plight to heart, Ruby decided to fend for herself as much as she could. As it is generally known, tuition fees and high costs run alongside each other, and acquiring the miscellaneous “nitty-gritties” for university, consumes the little resources. To stave off the burden, even if in the slightest, she landed a job as a security officer, and it was at that point the waves of fatigue buffeted her, as she’d now be saddled with the crucible of manning that job and enabling her studies simultaneously.

Being a full-time student meant that her hours were allocated to the voices of lecturers in classes during the day, after which she would drag herself to commit to the grueling night shift. It was not long before it took a toll on her physically, evidently so, as it did not escape one of her lecturers that she was habitually dosing off during class.

“I was exhausted,” she reflected. Her enthusiasm for success however was not dampened, and as a seasoned cosmetologist, she brought her trade into the equation, and that, coupled with the funds trickling in from her other job, aided partially in footing the academic expenses of herself and even her sister who at that time was also in college.

Dwindling grades  

Dwindling grades was a cause for concern to her mother, who in turn advised that she quit the security post, since the taxing hours contributed to her being unable to concentrate. Eventually she discontinued after approximately nine months on the job, falling back on her abiding mother who availed her with all-round support, and her uncle whose timely financial contributions helped carry her through.

The urge to throw her hands up in frustration was consistent and compelling, but she got by unyieldingly, owing that also to various lecturers for their constant prodding. Despite her travails, she kept before her mind the eventuality of a better life, and this, she stated, was not just for herself, but for her family. Notably, she is the first of her family to attend and graduate UG.

Effected by an early exposure to her mother and brother’s animal husbandry activities, Ruby is especially fond of agriculture, putting this to practicality since her time at High School. She opted for “Agri stream”, which she expressed, represented her passion and livelihood.

Suitably, and perhaps deservingly so, she has been recruited by the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI). The journey is not over just yet, however. In the very near future, the proud graduate will seek to latch a few more letters to her name, as she readies for her pursuit of her Master’s Degree.

Her philosophical view is “Anyone can achieve anything in life with hard work, resilience and discipline. Nothing is impossible. Our imagination is our only limitation.”

“None of this wouldn’t be possible if the creator didn’t give me health, strength, wisdom and blessed me with good friends, family and other important people that helped me in successfully completely this journey,” she humbly expressed.