Venezuelan born Shaneeza Persaud is this year’s University of Guyana Valedictorian. Born to a Venezuelan mother and Guyanese father, Persaud completed a Bachelor of Science in Marketing at UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI).

At the 58th Convocation ceremony this morning, Persaud spoke of her hardships in completing her degree. She explained that most of her university life was spent virtually from another country which made it more difficult for her, but noted that she was determined to persevere. 

“Standing here as the valedictorian is an honor that goes beyond any title or recognition for me it represents a journey or growth, resilience and perseverance, personally it symbolizes the strength I found in myself to move and navigate everything that came my way whether it was adapting to a new country, overcoming moments of self doubt or embracing each experience with a open heart,” the UG Valedictorian stated.

The Valedictorian 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 majoring in Mandarin in China.

She expressed her gratitude to her peers and lecturers who helped her through her university life. She shared that although there were a number of difficult moments along the way, she was focused enough to finish strong.

“This day means you can overcome everything, through these years we had to learn to adapt, persevere, this certification is not just what we can achieve academically, it is a testament to our resilient spirit, our commitment and our strength,” the Valedictorian noted.

Persaud said she is preparing to pursue a Master’s degree, with aspirations to make a meaningful impact in her field.

The Valedictorian sees her time at the University of Guyana as a transformative period that allowed her to grow in ways she never anticipated. 

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