In a world where inspiration can come from the most personal places, young teachers are stepping into the classroom with a passion ignited by their role models. One such teacher is 26-year-old Niyah Gonsalves, whose journey into education was profoundly influenced by her mother, a dedicated teacher with over two decades of experience.
Growing up in Fort Wellington, she watched her mother navigate the challenges and triumphs of teaching. Her mother’s commitment to education left an indelible mark on her, from late-night lesson planning to heartfelt conversations with students. Gonsalves is a mother of one.
Regarding her education, Gonsalves attended Hopetown Primary, and Mahaicony Secondary and completed CPCE. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Guyana.
Niyah believes that children sometimes need someone to look up to and to aspire to be like, similarly to how she admired her mom, and as a teacher, she can positively influence a child’s way of thinking or doing. She can also assist her students in building their self-esteem and believing in themselves and their ability to learn, no matter their background, and economic status.
“Many students say they hate school because it’s boring. As a teacher, I want to spark their interest and help them understand that they are smart and capable of learning, no matter their ability. Essentially, I can be a positive influence in their lives,” Niyah said.
Niyah’s teaching career started at Williamsburg Nursery, on the Corentyne (Region 6), however, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was fortunate to be transferred to Yeoville Nursery School on the West Coast of Berbice due to the safety measures in place.
For Gonsalves, traveling from the West Coast Berbice to East Berbice-Corentyne was tedious and eventually strenuous on her finances; since she also had a toddler to take care of.
However, when she returned to Region 5, things got better for her. She was also able to get into the Cyril Potter College of Education to continue her studies.
However, the challenges she faced whilst pursuing her teaching career, did not deter her because, her mom was her support system.
Niyah added, “My mom cared for both myself and my son throughout all of my challenges. And GOD, of course, prayers also got me through the toughest times.”
Niyah’s advice, “To prove that one person can make a difference, you can’t teach every child in the world but you can make a difference for the ones that you do teach.
The impact you have on their lives can stay with them throughout their years of schooling and beyond.”
