Top NGSA student had natural ability to perform well
Venisha with her prizes
Venisha with her prizes

Desires to visit Kaieteur Falls

By Indrawattie Natram

FROM a very young age, 11-year-old Venisha Devi Lall of Anna Regina Housing Scheme in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region, has always displayed the ability to perform well academically. Lall was announced on July 3 as one of Guyana’s top performing National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students. She shared the spot with Dave Chowtie of Graham’s Hall Primary, after scoring 532 marks at the examinations.

11-year-old Venisha Lall of Anna Regina

During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Lall’s mother and father Radika and Muneshwar Lall, said that their child has natural ability to succeed. The parents reminisced when Venisha was at Cotton Field Nursery she took part in a National Spelling Bee Competition and gained first place. From that competition, the parents realised that their child was naturally brilliant and paid keen attention to her upbringing.

After completing Rainbow Play School and the Cotton Field Nursery, the parents enrolled her at CV Nunes Primary in Anna Regina, where she continued to shine both academically and in extra-curricular activities. At Grade One she was named the Princess of CV Nunes after competing in the school’s pageant. She was also named the Princess for Anna Regina Town. Venisha also placed second in the country for the National Grade Two Assessment for CV Nunes Primary.

The parents said since she started her primary education, she would achieve a yearly average of between 95 to 97 percent. “Venisha never went below [that]. She is always in her 90s and we are very proud of her. She never took extra lessons. She is naturally brilliant and that is what we admire the most about her. Whenever she is not sure about something she makes use of the internet,” Venisha’s mother said.

Optimistic Child
Venisha, during the interview, recalled one dramatic episode in her life when she wrote the Grade Four Assessment examination. She said that she will never forget that day when the teachers told her that her test papers were lost. She broke down in tears, because she knew she was a top performer for her class and school. But that lesson taught Venisha to be optimistic and she explained that she was broken after that examination because she believed that she was “cheated,” but she continued living in optimism.

“I was physiologically affected [after that], then God sent Miss Bindawattie Ketwaroo,” Venisha said.

Today she said she is proud that she was able to make her region, her country and everyone she knows, proud. “I know it’s just the beginning of my academic life, but I will continue to strive and make Guyana proud.”

Speaking about her hours of studying, Venisha said that she studied for only one hour per night. She also said she paid keen attention whenever she was taught a new lesson in her class.
She vividly recalled when her mother would stay up long hours with her preparing her for the examinations. She said she would see her mother falling asleep, but still managing to ask her questions, “My mommy is the best, she spent sleepless nights with me ensuring that I revised and I answered all the questions I needed to know. I love her for that,” Venisha said.

Dancing and Devotion
At the age of six, Venisha joined the Dharmic Swarswattie Dance Academy. Today, she is one of the leading dancers for the dance troupe. She attested that dancing has taught her to be emotionally strong and has built her self-confidence from a young age. She said since she is the only child for her parents, the other dancers are like her brothers and sisters.

Venisha Lall with her parents Radika and Muneshwar Lall

“There is never a dull moment when I am at dance classes. I enjoy dancing and I love the dancers – we are like family. I love dancing, it not only keeps me fit, but it builds a young girl’s confidence,” Venisha said.

Venisha is spiritually attached and is a regular devotee of the Anna Regina Mandir. This young lady believes in her Hindu religion and said that in every examination she called on “Ganapattie Baba” for his blessings. From a small age she would also write letters to God and put it at her altar, she told the Pepperpot magazine.

Venisha said that she would like to thank the Regional Education Officer Nicola Matthews and the region’s RDC for the warm welcome and recognition she has received following her outstanding performance.

She advises those who will be sitting next year’s examinations to continue to study hard and to stay focused. When asked what is her wish, given her great achievement, Venisha said she would love to have an iPhone, but mostly wishes to visit the Kaieteur Falls since she is a nature lover.

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