It was Nelson Mandela who said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.”
Dr. Sabrina Dookie began her teaching career in 2010 at her alma mater (Mahaicony Secondary). She stepped into the classroom with a heart full of enthusiasm and a mind eager to shape the futures of young learners. Known for her innovative teaching methods, unwavering commitment to student success, and passion for the sciences, she quickly became a beloved figure within the school community. Dookie’s goal as a teacher has always been to inspire her students to reach beyond what they thought possible.
One of the best science teachers
On July 30th, 2024 Dookie posted on Facebook about completing her PhD. Many of her past and current students also took to Facebook, commenting and sharing the post and describing Dookie as one of the best science teachers they had. “I’m crying tears of joy! I am a proud past student of Miss Sabrina Dookie, and I’ve seen only a fraction of her hard work. This is truly well deserved. Congratulations to you, Miss. May God continue to bless and keep you, and may you continue to achieve greatness in everything that you do,” one student said.
Another one said, “You’ve broken through the ceiling of academia, your dedication has indeed been intense; it’s only fitting that you’re now called an intellectual giant!!! Congratulations, Doctor Sabrina Dookie!!! carpe diem!!” These statements spoke to her effectiveness as a teacher, inspiring the future generation.
“I wanted to be a scientist, and I stayed true to the journey. I also wanted to show them that learning doesn’t stop at the end of the school day—it’s a lifelong journey,” Dookie mentioned. Growing up, she always believed in the pursuit of knowledge. In her opinion, it is something that is ever-growing and everlasting.
“When I completed my Master’s Degree in Forest Biology in 2021, I was able to truly appreciate the world of science and academia at large. It was very different from what I was exposed to as a teacher in the education sector. When I submitted my MSc thesis to the University of Guyana, my assessors and supervisors advised me to continue working in my field of study. If we were able to produce a body of work that benefits the environment and society holistically, then it would likely be submitted for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,” she said.
Journey towards the PhD
The decision to pursue a PhD was not one she took lightly. Her journey toward a doctorate was fraught with challenges, from late nights of research and writing to the emotional toll of balancing work, study, and personal life. Yet, Dr. Dookie remained undeterred, drawing strength from a deep commitment to their goals and the unwavering support of family, friends, and colleagues.
Her students and family were always her inspiration and support. “They have always believed in my abilities and never doubted my capacity to undertake tasks. They would always push me to be better and do better. Knowing that I had people who supported me and supervisors (Professor Abdullah Ansari and Dr. Sirpaul Jaikishun) who believed in my abilities, I decided to pursue a PhD in biodiversity while reprising my role as a teacher at Mahaicony Secondary School,” she added.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants that occupy our coastline and riverine areas. Dr. Dookie studies mangrove ecosystem dynamics, which is the study of the changes in ecosystem structure caused by environmental disturbances or internal forces.
Her work revolves around understanding how human and natural disturbances affect the functioning of mangrove ecosystems and their subsequent impacts on biodiversity.
Her passion for studying mangroves stemmed from childhood curiosity, as she lived next to the Mahaicony River.
She added, “I was always surrounded by mangroves. I used to think that they were strange-looking trees that crabs live in, but as I grew older, I began to gain an awareness of how important mangroves are to us, particularly in the face of climate change. Now that we have been declared an oil-rich country, there is a greater need to understand the role of mangroves in coastline protection and climate change. As such, I tailored my research work to focus specifically on mangrove forests along our coastline.”
Overcoming challenges along the PhD journey
Though there were many obstacles she encountered along her PhD journey, her biggest challenge was financial. As a secondary school teacher, she realized that she couldn’t continue a new study venture without having the necessary finances in order. Though she sought out funding opportunities, sadly, she wasn’t awarded any by the government; as such, she had to pay for her tuition and project materials out of pocket. This was extremely hard for her to do as a teacher who was not paid for her MSc degree at that time.
However, she was determined to push forward; she used the savings she had to pay her tuition and kept her second job working at the Fraser’s Educational Institute for the first two years of study. During that time, she also reached out to several agencies that would have greatly assisted her with project funding and resource personnel.
“I will always be grateful to the Mangrove Monitoring and Restoration Department (NAREI) and the Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Company for their tremendous support during my PhD journey,” Dr. Dookie added.
Her second biggest challenge in the pursuit of a PhD degree was her focus on her doctoral research. During that period, she had to effectively use her free time to work on publications, attend conferences and seminars, do data collection and analysis, and write her thesis.
To do this, she refused any senior promotions that were offered by the Ministry of Education. As a junior teacher, more time was available for her to effectively teach her classes and do her doctoral research during holidays, weekends, and after-school hours.
This choice came with many consequences, two of which were at the cost of her mental and physical health. There were many days when she struggled to get out of bed or came home crying from stressful days at work. There were days when she didn’t want to go to work because she was too sick or tired. However, she realized that, as a teacher, her duty was always to her students, and she tried her best to ensure that they were exam-ready. She had to continuously sacrifice and practice proper time management to balance the demands of teaching and doctoral research.
When undertaking ‘heavy degrees’ such as a doctorate, there were always doubts that surfaced from time to time. There were many times she asked herself questions like, “Am I even supposed to be here?”, “What if I don’t get published?”, “What if something goes wrong with my research?”, “What if I fail?”, “Where will I get the money to pay for this?”, were thoughts that ran through Dr. Dookie’s mind.
As these doubts came, it undermined her confidence from time to time. She was a victim of many anxiety attacks and mental breakdowns. Having faith in the almighty God is one of the reasons she was able to achieve this degree.
“Prayers move mountains! Sometimes all you need to do is rest your worries in the hands of God, and he will take care of the rest, giving you double for all of your troubles,” she told this publication.
Her mom and sister were her biggest supporters and cheerleaders. They always had faith in her and would try their best to remove any doubts she had. After the death of her father, her mother became her greatest source of strength, especially throughout the PhD journey.
Her mom was like a superwoman, for she was strong, not just physically. Her strength kept Dookie together at times. Also, her words of encouragement always brought life back into Dookie’s work and helped her resolve challenges and push past limits. Because of her, Dookie is now the youngest person in her family with a PhD.
The future
As it relates to her plans, she is currently in a state of transition from Mahaicony Secondary School to the University of Guyana (Faculty of Natural Sciences) as a lecturer. Achieving a PhD empowered her with the skills and experience that she needed to take teaching and scientific research to another level. This enables her to provide guidance and advice to her students on their current tasks and future goals. Her doctorate, in addition to her fourteen years of experience as a teacher, allows her to be a mentor and role model to all, particularly women with an interest in STEM education and/or fields.
“I have always considered the mangrove forests of Guyana an untapped resource, particularly when it comes to research opportunities. When we look at the goods and services provided by mangroves, research becomes limitless! In my upcoming projects, I plan to dive deeper into the dynamics of mangroves by testing ecological hypotheses surrounding the resistance, resilience, stability, and vulnerability of these forests along the coastline of Guyana. I truly believe that a greater understanding of the importance of mangroves would allow us to practice efficient conservation and preservation methods to protect and sustain them,” she highlighted.
In the next few years, she envisions herself as a better scientific researcher, advisor, and lecturer. She believes that when we chase excellence, success comes shortly after. At the moment, Dookie is currently acquiring new skills that would make her an asset to her students, her community, and her country by extension. She also seeks opportunities and challenges to use her skills as a research scientist, environmentalist, and ecologist to actively pursue research and policies that further her area of expertise and take increased responsibility for the development, conservation, and protection of Guyana’s natural resources for security, sustainability, and the maintenance of biodiversity.
“If their heart desires to pursue a higher level of education, then everyone, including educators, should do so. There is no limit to who can receive knowledge. Knowledge is universal and should always be acquired in service to mankind—to establish new pathways, discover new things, and break old cycles of thinking,” is Dr. Dookie’s advice to anyone who wishes to pursue a doctoral degree.
Further, she added:
- The road to a PhD is lonely. This is because you are expected to do over 75% of the work which is heavily critiqued. You must be able to be disciplined, accountable for your actions, self-sufficient, and practice self-love and care.
- A PhD requires many sacrifices. You must be able to practice good time and financial management to be able to balance your work and studies.
- There is nothing wrong with failing and making mistakes. You must become comfortable with the idea of rejection. That is all part of the journey to a PhD. All that matters is that you don’t give up on yourself and your abilities.
- While the road to a PhD is lonely, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be lonely. Achieving a PhD requires good teamwork and a strong support system. You can achieve this by becoming familiar with people in your field of study and seeking help and advice.
- Lastly, be humble. Let your actions and work speak for you. Pursuing a higher degree does not make you better than others. It makes you ABLE to help others in their time of need.
B.B. King said, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
In a world that constantly demands growth and adaptation, Dr. Dookie stands as a shining example of what it means to be a lifelong learner and a dedicated educator. Her achievement is a reminder that, no matter the obstacles, the pursuit of knowledge is always worth the effort.
This story was updated with additional information and photos
