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“I was determined to persevere in spite of severe challenges” – UG’s 2024 Valedictorian


Shaneeza Persaud, University of Guyana’s 2024 Valedictorian

Born in Venezuela to a Venezuelan mother and a Guyanese father, Shaneeza Persaud is this year’s University of Guyana Valedictorian.


But her journey to this feat was anything but smooth. Although she spent most of her childhood in Venezuela, she longed to return to the place she fondly calls “home.”


As such, when it was time to pursue her degree, she chose to study in Guyana, undeterred by the challenges that awaited her.


She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Marketing at UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI).


Initially, she faced the daunting task of adapting to a new country after many years of being away.


Her early university days were spent online due to the pandemic, but when she finally moved to Guyana in 2023, she encountered a new wave of challenges.


Living alone for the first time, she managed household responsibilities, navigated a new environment, and tackled a demanding academic workload.


“Believing in myself, believing I could handle the stress and pressure was something I struggled with during the entire four years of my degree,” she posited.


“This was one of the hardest, most challenging periods of my life. I was alone in a country I hadn’t been in for years […] There were days when I wouldn’t eat in order to get everything done on time,” she recalled.


Despite these challenges, she persevered and immersed herself fully in university life. She took on the role of faculty representative and became active in the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS), demonstrating her commitment to building a supportive community around her.


Shaneeza’s dedication and hard work culminated in her being named UG’s 2024 Valedictorian—a moment that came as a shock to her.


“When I received the call from my professor, it was 12 a.m. here in China [...] I was genuinely speechless for a few seconds, processing the information,” she recalled.


Her first thought was to share the good news with her parents despite the miles between them.


“There was nothing I would’ve wanted more than to be able to tell them in person and share this beautiful moment with them,” she shared.


For Shaneeza, the valedictorian title goes beyond recognition: it represents “a journey of growth, resilience, and perseverance.”

 

Shaneeza’s achievements did not come without the support of her family and friends. Though they were physically distant, her family remained close in spirit.


“The sacrifices my parents made for me to be able to attend university in Guyana […] there will never be enough words to showcase my gratitude to them. This achievement is for them. If there were ever moments when I wanted to give up, my parents would always come to mind, leading me to start over with more vigour and renewed courage. From my days of logging into class on my mom’s laptop back in Venezuela to leaning on them from afar while I was in Guyana, I owe this milestone to them,” she proudly said.

 

The valedictorian added that her friends in Guyana became her “family away from home,” providing companionship, understanding, and a sense of belonging during challenging times. Additionally, she praised the valuable support provided by faculty and admin staff at the University of Guyana.


Shaneeza expressed that she would have liked to be in Guyana to accept the highly coveted prize in person. However, she is already enrolled in a language programme to perfect her Mandarin in China—a step she believes will broaden her horizons in both her personal and professional life.


Looking ahead, Shaneeza is preparing to pursue a master’s degree, with aspirations to make a meaningful impact in her field.


“With a degree in Marketing, I’m excited to leverage the power of effective communication to positively impact my community and field,” she shared.


Her vision is to help local businesses and organisations connect with audiences in ways that reflect the unique culture and values of Guyana.


As she looks back, Shaneeza sees her time at the University of Guyana as a transformative period that allowed her to grow in ways she never anticipated.


Once a shy individual, she steps forward confidently, ready to face new challenges and continue making her family, friends, and community proud.


The nation’s premier tertiary educational institution, the University of Guyana, will host a series of graduation ceremonies on November 7–9 (for Turkeyen graduands) and November 16 (for Berbice graduands).


The graduation ceremonies will be blended, with the large majority of the graduands attending face-to-face and the remaining participating virtually.

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