At just 24 years old, Capreace Shaquanda Walks has already proven that dreams born in small villages can blossom into extraordinary realities. The proud native Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara and recent Hugh Wooding Law School graduate describes herself as “a girl with big dreams,” but her story reveals something far deeper, a life guided by faith, perseverance, and a passion for justice.
When Capreace speaks about her journey, her words radiate gratitude. “It feels surreal….It’s like I’m really standing in the very place where I once prayed to be. I’m overwhelmed because the sleepless nights, multiple breakdowns, and sacrifices were worth it,” she says.
Her path to law wasn’t an accident, it was a calling. “As cliché as it may sound, I was inspired to pursue law because I wanted to help others find justice and be a voice for those who often go unheard,” Capreace shares. Growing up, she witnessed firsthand what it meant for people to be unaware of their rights. Determined to make a difference, she pursued her LLB at the University of Guyana, finishing among the top 25 students, a distinction that earned her a place at Hugh Wooding to pursue her Legal Education Certificate (LEC).
“Law was always my first choice,” she said. “From a very young age, whenever someone asked what I wanted to be, I always said, ‘I want to be a lawyer.”
Life at Hugh Wooding
Capreace’s days at Hugh Wooding were long and demanding. “My mornings started early. I’d listen to gospel music, head to school, sometimes without breakfast, and grab fruits between classes,” she recalls. “There were lectures, tutorials, endless readings, and yes, a few tears.”
Yet, even in her hardest moments, faith remained her anchor. “There’s a quote that says, ‘The law is a jealous mistress,’ and it’s true. Law school was very demanding, but during my toughest moments, my faith in God kept me grounded. Whenever I felt like giving up, I’d listen to ‘So Will I’ by Cross Worship featuring Osby Berry, pray, rest, and go again,” Capreace mentioned.
Her support system, her immediate family, her church (Tunapuna New Testament Church of God), and her partner, all played a major role in helping her stay focused. “They would pray with and for me,” she says. “My partner even let me explain my coursework to him just so I could test my understanding.”
For Capreace, the people she met at Hugh Wooding shaped her experience as much as the coursework did. “Ms. Martha Des Vignes and Ms. Farah Ali-Khan really impacted me,” she says. “They didn’t just teach law; they believed in me.” She also remembers Mrs. Avion Crooks, who became “a listening ear and a source of comfort during difficult times.”
Two moments stand out in her memory. The first came during a struggle with Law of Remedies. “No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get it,” she recalls. A classmate, Keona Higgins, offered to help. “She opened her home to me, and we spent an entire weekend studying. Thanks to her, I finally understood and passed the exam.”
The second memory came in Year Two’s Legal Aid clinic. “After presenting my case, Ms. Ali-Khan commended me and told me I had so much potential and should never hide it. That gave me the confidence to start speaking up more.”
Despite her successes, Capreace admits that self-doubt was a constant battle. “I had the worst case of imposter syndrome all throughout law school,” she confesses. “By Year Two, my faith was really tested. I kept dreaming that I would fail every course. It made studying so hard because I felt like I couldn’t do it, but I prayed, and I made it.”
Balancing academics, ministry, and personal life wasn’t easy either. She relied on strict schedules, moments of rest, and faith to keep going. “I had to learn to give myself grace,” she says. “Rome wasn’t built in a day. I created study timetables and rewarded myself with small breaks, sometimes just watching African Movies.”
Capreace’s time at Hugh Wooding wasn’t all about studying. She also served as Secretary of the Guyana Jurisdictional Committee, and assisted in organising Guyana Night and other student events, including a lively games night in November. “It was a good way to take my mind off the hectic schoolwork,” she says. “The law school really encourages students to be part of committees, it keeps us sane.”
When asked what advice she’d give to those who hope to follow in her footsteps, Capreace doesn’t hesitate: “The race is not for the swift, but for those who endure to the end. Law school is not a walk in the park, prepare to work hard. You can’t do it alone. Find balance, pray, and don’t wait until the last minute to study. If this Den Amstel girl can do it, you can too!”
