The news is abuzz with the exciting announcement that two young Guyanese, Fatima Karim and Ashley Anthony have scored positions in a few of the top-tier universities in the United States.
These ‘high flyers’ in education are no strangers to the spotlight; both young ladies recently basked in their successes at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). Karim, currently an Upper Sixth form student at Queen’s College and 2016’s top CSEC performer, was able to gain admission into the Princeton and Stanford Universities. The young scholar explained that while both universities are stellar, it would be a difficult decision to choose; she is intent on studying chemical engineering.
While attending St Rose’s High School, Karim wrote 20 subjects and obtained 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Speaking with Guyana Times, the young woman had expressed her excitement and relief with her results, noting that she is proud of her achievement.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the grades… I was expecting to do well but I didn’t know that I would top the country. I found out about my grades like two hours before the press conference and was really excited but I still didn’t know I topped the country, and I was watching the press conference with my family and when they called out my name, the house went wild and the phone began to ring and it was crazy after that,” she recalled.
Even then, the young academic expressed the hopes of pursuing studies in petroleum engineering, following in the footsteps of her uncles and grandfather. She said too that it would be a source of great pride for her to return to Guyana upon the completion of her studies.
Meanwhile, Ashley Anthony has been admitted to Yale, another high-profile US university. This young lady is no stranger to being highlighted for her academic ability. A published Author and a columnist, this young lady also a high achiever at CSEC and CAPE in 2016. The daughter of former Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Ashley s ecured 17 Grade Ones.
“My advice to other young people would be to try your best to understand the system and what’s required of you. You can be a great student; excelling at CSEC and CAPE, but if you don’t put the same amount of effort into SATS and your essays for your college applications, more than likely you won’t be as successful as you hope. Always have a contingency plan. Even though it’s good to shoot for the stars, many ivy league schools and top tier schools are extremely selective. In my case, I chose to apply to top schools as well as schools that weren’t as elite to ensure that at the end of the day I’d still be going to college,” Ashely advised during an interview with the Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.
Hoping to study Biomolecular Physics/ Chemistry, Anthony explained that although she had sent applications to several other high ranking Universities, Yale was among her top choices. She is intent on continuing her academic pursuits, and explained that even after she graduates in 2022 she plans to return to Guyana.
Anuradha Dev firmly positioned in the high echelons of academics. Currently pursuing studies at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Anuradha Dev is former student of Leonora Primary School, the young Guyanese scholar emerged as a high flyer in 2006 when she topped the country at the Common Entrance Examinations, now the National Grade 6 Assessment (NGSA). Securing a place at the prestigious Queen’s College, the young Guyanese also topped the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) for Guyana in 2011, with 16 grade ones; this time, she also secured the highest scores in the Caribbean for Science. Subsequently, Anu excelled in the 2013 CAPE Examinations.
According to Miss Dev, preparation for the examination was a challenge as she did not attend any lessons; rather, she studied with the help of her father and her teachers who again contributed to her success. “Well first of all, I didn’t take any lessons; I did a lot of work at home with my dad by using the CAPE syllabus,” she disclosed during an earlier interview with the Guyana Times.
Dev, who was ordained Head Prefect at her school, said the opportunity gave her the opportunity to become more organised for CAPE Unit Two as she had to prioritise her work. She is fiercely proud of the role she played as Head Prefect and also takes pride in representing her school in sports.
Elaborating on her home studies, Dev said she and her dad would do online studies and research, but this was a challenge since she had to choose specifically what to study based on the makeup of the CAPE syllabus. She wrote biology, chemistry, physics, pure math (all Unit Two) and Caribbean studies this year, and in 2012 in Lower Six Form, she wrote biology, chemistry, physics, pure math and communications studies (all Unit One). She thanked her teachers, families and friends for their support during her studies, and advised students to break the habit of procrastination and to manage their time wisely.
After this achievement, she then moved on to Trinidad, where she is currently pursuing her medical studies. Following three years in Medical School, Anu attained her Bachelor of Medical Science, graduating with high honours and a 4.11GPA. She is currently working assiduously to complete her MBBS in May.
Intention
With intentions of eventually becoming a General Surgeon, this Guyanese high achiever’s main aim is to improve the health care system in Guyana, and has every intention of returning to her homeland. She expressed the confidence that “Guyana is beginning to take off” and that she can provide an invaluable service to her country in the future. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
