From Pageants to Classroom: Antacia Thomas Inspires Through Arts and Education

In a world where passion often meets purpose, Antacia F. Thomas stands out as a shining example of what it means to live a life fuelled by learning, service, and the arts. From her early days as a bright-eyed student at St. Aloysius Primary School to her current roles as a dynamic educator, dancer, pageant queen, and youth leader, Antacia has made it her mission to inspire and uplift.

A proud alumna of New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School, she graduated in 2013 as both Best All-Round Student and Best Humanities Arts Student. Further she completed the CAPE program, capping passes in all four units.

Antacia’s journey into education began not with certainty, but with curiosity.
“Teaching wasn’t my first career choice,” she admits, “but I always knew I wanted to create positive change. The profession found me—and I’m forever grateful it did.”

Since entering the Cyril Potter College of Education in 2014, Antacia has amassed an impressive list of academic and professional achievements. She graduated as Best Pre-Service Secondary Student in 2016 and continued to hone her skills at the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, where she earned a diploma in the Teaching of Theatre Arts and Drama and was named co-valedictorian.

Today, Thomas wears many hats: secondary school teacher, part-time lecturer at CPCE, Vice President of the Performing Arts Society at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, and cadet instructor. But she’s more than just titles; Antacia is a cultural ambassador and role model. She holds six pageant titles—including Miss Exquisitely Conscious 2017 and Queen of CPCE’s Royal Family. She recently led students in the 2025 Berbice Mashramani Road Parade, dancing with joy and pride to Caribbean soca rhythms.

Despite the accolades, her journey hasn’t been without obstacles. “I’ve dealt with limited resources, tight schedules, and personal challenges,” she shares.
Further, she added, “But perseverance, discipline, and sheer will helped me push through. Resilience isn’t loud—it’s in every late-night study, every small win earned with quiet effort.”

A profound belief in the transformative power of education keeps her going. “It’s the cornerstone of human advancement,” she says. “Teaching allows me to contribute to that, student by student, day by day. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.”

Through her community work with the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities, and her involvement in student life, Antacia continues to be a force for empowerment and change.

To aspiring teachers and young dreamers, her advice is both poetic and practical:
“Dream big—dream things that make others raise their eyebrows. Chase knowledge like your favorite song echoing down the road. Grow. Teach. Create. Love the process. And never stop learning—even from the unknown.”