NickeshaRoss-Long Set to Walk UG’s Graduation Stage in November

Hailing from Chesney, Corentyne, Berbice, Nickesha has spent more than 13 years caring for  others as a Registered Nursing Assistant. Nursing, to her, is not just a job, it’s a ministry of  compassion. “I am very hands-on with my patients. I try to advocate for them, especially those  who have attempted suicide or struggle with mental health challenges,” she shared. Her deep  concern for the wellbeing of others inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in  Psychology at the University of Guyana, even while studying at the New Amsterdam School of  Nursing, where she is now completing her final year of the Registered Nursing (RN) programme. 

Her journey back to school was not without challenges. Married at just 21 years old, and now in  her 30s, Nickesha knew that balancing school, work, and family would be demanding. “It was 

hard at first. My grades weren’t where I wanted them to be. I doubted myself,” she said. But she  was blessed with encouragement from her sister, Mrs Natoya Ross-De Santos, a lecturer at the  University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus, who never stopped believing in her. 

“She kept telling me, ‘You are smart, you can do this,’” Nickesha said with a smile. “Some days  I thought she was too hard on me, but now I see that it was exactly what I needed.” That  encouragement, coupled with her faith in God, gave her the courage to keep going when things  became difficult. 

Nickesha’s academic path began with a Diploma in Psychology, but her lecturer, Ms Kendall, saw  her potential and encouraged her to continue to the degree level. Taking that advice to heart, she  enrolled in the Bachelor’s programme, just as she finally got accepted into the Registered Nursing  course she had been applying to for years. “Both opportunities came at the same time. I decided  I wasn’t giving up either of them. So I did both,” she related.  

Balancing two demanding programmes was a challenge on its own, but Nickesha didn’t stop there.  She was also required to complete a six-month GED programme through Amity University, which  was fully online but still required focus and commitment. 

Her schedule was packed: Thursdays were for RN practicals, weekends for intense studying for  nursing school, and weekdays for UG. It was an exhausting routine, but she managed it through  prayer and determination. “I was only able to do this because of God. There were times I wanted  to quit, but God kept me going,” she said with pride.  

Her husband, Kurt, played a key role in that journey. Even though his job has him stationed overseas, his love and support were constant. “He provided the finances for my travel from  Corentyne to Turkeyen. When he realised how often I had to travel, he bought a car to make it  easier for me to attend classes in Georgetown and return home safely. And whenever I said I  felt like quitting, he told me ‘no’, reminding me that I could finish.” 

Their children, Kiara (16) and Keifer (12), also became a part of their mother’s academic story.  “They demanded good grades from me, because I demand good grades from them,” she said  with a smile. Kiara often made sure her mother had a meal ready when she got home late at night,  while Keifer would call her during her long drives to keep her company. 

There were moments of guilt as well. “When my son was preparing for his Secondary School  Entrance Examinations, I couldn’t help him as much as I wanted to. I got him a tutor, and he  did well”. Now, she spends her evenings helping her daughter prepare for CXC next year. Through  it all, her mother, Ann, was also a steady source of help and love, always ready to assist wherever  she could. 

Nickesha also found support outside her family. At work, her supervisor made special  arrangements for her to take night shifts so she wouldn’t miss classes. “I worked strictly nights so  I won’t miss any class during the day. I was going to work at nights and attending class during  the day and I hardly slept,” She said. Among her classmates, she also found a small but strong  circle of friends who encouraged one another and studied together.  

As she prepares to celebrate 17 years of marriage next month and looks forward to her graduation,  Nickesha’s heart is full of gratitude. “I thank God for everything. For my family, for those who  encouraged me, and for giving me strength when I felt weak. It wasn’t easy, but with faith and  support, all things are possible.” 

Her story is one of love, discipline, and divine grace, a living example of how faith and family can  carry a person through life’s most demanding seasons. And when she steps onto that stage in her  graduation gown, she will do so as a woman who trusted God, leaned on her loved ones, and never  gave up on the dreams placed in her heart. (Feature by the Department of Events, Conferences  and Communication (DECC), Office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana)