We Came Out Stronger’ – UG Students Share Stories of Overcoming Personal Grief, Sickness, Financial Challenges on Road to Academic Success

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The University of Guyana is currently hosting a series of graduation exercises, with the Turkeyen  leg of the ceremonies completed last Saturday and another major ceremony set for Saturday,  November 16, at the Berbice Campus. Among the students graduating are individuals whose  journeys were marked by immense personal challenges and unimaginable losses. Each one has  overcome adversity, demonstrating the power of resilience, love, and determination to achieve  their dreams. 

At 27, Anita, the first of 25 siblings to graduate with a Master’s from the University of Guyana,  has become an inspiration to her friends and family. A former journalist, Anita was always  enthusiastic about her career and education. But when she enrolled in the MSc in Strategic  Development Studies, she had no idea she was pregnant. “I didn’t know I was pregnant when I  applied for the course. I thought I could manage the workload with my job,” Anita said. “But the  pregnancy brought unexpected difficulties. I was constantly in and out of the hospital, sometimes  on bed rest, and I had to find a balance between attending classes and caring for my health.” 

During her studies, her condition worsened, and doctors advised her to have an abortion to save  her life. “I was devastated. I thought about leaving my studies altogether, but my classmates and  lecturers wouldn’t let me,” she recalled. “They told me, ‘You’ve come this far. We’ll help you  finish.’” With their support and the encouragement of her lecturers, Anita pushed through the  toughest moments, refusing to give up on her dreams. 

Even though Anita was struggling with her health, she didn’t want to fall behind. She reached out  to her lecturers, explaining her condition, and they were incredibly accommodating, extending  deadlines and offering support. 

Three weeks after giving birth, Anita was back at the university, supporting her classmates during  a presentation. Despite the challenges, she remained determined to succeed and inspire her  siblings, who look up to her as a role model. 

Additionally, Anita’s faith in God kept her grounded throughout the journey. “I know it was God  who saw me through. When I thought I couldn’t go on, He gave me strength,” she said. 

Ngozi Thomas lost his father to cancer during his studies; he graduated with a Bachelor’s  Degree in Information Technology. 

For Ngozi, earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology was deeply personal, as he  faced the heartbreaking loss of his father to cancer during his final year. “The morning my dad  died, I felt my world shatter. The only question that echoed in my mind was, ‘Do people just die  like that?’ Losing him made no sense.” 

Despite this immense loss, Ngozi refused to give up. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to  honour his father’s memory. “I’ve always been determined, and giving up was never an option,”  he explained. “I owe it to my parents, especially my dad, to become the best version of myself. It’s  my way of honouring his strength and love,” he said. 

Support from his family became his anchor. “My mum and older brother were devastated, but we  found strength in each other. As long as we had Mum, and she had us, we knew we couldn’t stop.  We might slow down, but we wouldn’t quit,” he said. 

Balancing academics with personal grief was no easy task. Ngozi managed his time by staying  incredibly busy, using his packed schedule as a way to cope. “Keeping myself occupied was my  way of handling the pain. It helped me push through one of the toughest periods of my life,” he  proudly said. 

His journey has taught him lessons about resilience. “True strength isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s  about facing it head-on and coming out stronger,” Ngozi shared. “Never give up on yourself, even  when life gets tough. Remember your ‘why’—your purpose, your loved ones. That’s what keeps  you going.” 

Shenicka Paul faced the loss of both her father and brother, as well as financial difficulties;  she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. 

In 2015, just as Shenicka Paul was contemplating starting her studies at the University of Guyana,  her father passed away. Despite the heartbreak and the mental health challenges that followed,  Shenicka pushed forward, driven by her father’s encouragement to pursue higher education. “I  started my diploma in Communication Studies with the intention of making my father proud,” she  recalled.

Her brother, Simon Paul, became her pillar of support, helping her navigate the challenges of  university life. “I remember him telling me, ‘One day, you’re going to be in the Law Department,’  and that has always stayed with me,” she shared. However, her world came crashing down again  in 2017 when she lost Simon during a semester break. The grief was overwhelming, leaving her  uncertain about continuing her studies. “I was unsure; I had no courage left,” she admitted. But  with the support of family, she took a leave of absence and eventually returned to finish her  diploma and later, her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. 

Throughout her academic journey, Shenicka faced numerous challenges, from financial difficulties  to battling mental health struggles. “God was my major support system. There were days when I  felt like giving up, but I knew I had to do this for my father, my brother, and myself.” She leaned  on faith, supportive friends, and the encouraging spirit of her Victoria Village community to pull  through. 

Sanjay Chandardeo was forced to cope with abandonment; he will be graduating with an  Associate Degree in Social Work. 

Sanjay Chandardeo, a teacher at Skeldon Line Path Secondary, faced more heartache than some  people experience in a lifetime. At just nine years old, Sanjay’s world was shattered. His father abandoned the family, and soon after, his mother—overwhelmed by despair—took her own life.  “I lost my father to abandonment and my mother to suicide,” he recalls. “When my father left, my  mother and I, along with my brother who was 2 at the time, moved in with my grandparents. They,  along with my uncles and aunts, supported us throughout everything.” 

Despite his circumstances, Sanjay excelled academically, passing all 16 of his CXC subjects with  flying colours. However, he admitted there were moments of struggle. “When my mother passed,  my grades slipped from above 90% to 60%. I know if she was here, I would have done way better.  She used to stay up with me at nights, and I know she would have continued if she was here.” 

Sanjay will be graduating with an Associate Degree in Social Work with distinction and is pursuing  his passion for law, driven by a desire to help others. “Listening to people’s stories and knowing  that so many are treated unfairly motivated me to study social work and now, Law. I want to make  a difference.” He believes that his hardships made him more empathetic, particularly towards his  students. 

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