–for young brother to follow

TWENTY-FOUR-year-old Shivanie Persaud, a former student of Queen’s College, who emerged as the nation’s best graduating student at the 2006 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) sitting with 12 Grade Ones and one Grade Two, has again done Guyana proud when she graduated with an MD from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad.
Persaud had proceeded to do the Sixth Form studies at Queen’s College, after which she graduated in 2008. On the basis of her performance, she was awarded a CXC Scholarship to pursue studies in Medicine at St. Augustine, where she underwent her degree programme. Having successfully completed her studies, she graduated from the University in October with an MD (Doctor of Medicine).
But even though she graduated in October, she had commenced working at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital in July, and has been doing well. “So, I have already had about five months working as a doctor at the Port-of-Spain Hospital, where I’m doing my internship,” she modestly told the Sunday Chronicle.
Shivanie says her ambition has always been to become a medical doctor. She recalls probably ‘playing doctor’ ever since she was at nursery school, and felt good at being referred to as ‘Dr. Persaud’. And now, with mission accomplished, when alluded to as ‘Dr. Persaud’, she knows from deep within that it’s the real thing. She harbours a feeling of satisfaction, knowing that this was wrought through hard work, diligent application, sacrifice, and an incredible support system.
She’ expressed gratitude to God; her parents, for their abundant love, support, and tender nurturing; the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), for awarding her the scholarship to pursue studies; the administration and staff of Queen’s College; teaching staff at the University of the West Indies; her teachers at Montrose Primary School, who prepared her for admission to QC; and not least, her only sibling, Prem.
Prem, who’s walked closely in Shivanie’s footsteps, is one year her junior. The year after she entered Q.C., he also excelled at the Common Entrance Examinations and qualified for Q.C. When he wrote CXC, even though he did not top QC, he passed with ‘straight As’. He also opted to do Medicine, and entered St. Augustine Campus, where he’s currently in his final year of studies. Prem looks forward to graduating as a medical doctor, come October 2014.

Most regrettably, however, tragedy struck the Persaud home just weeks after Shivanie graduated from university. Their father, Prem Persaud (Snr), suffered a heart attack and died. That misfortune brought Shivanie and Prem (Jnr) home to attend their father’s funeral. The Sunday Chronicle extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved Persaud family.
Shivanie and Prem are children of Bernadette and the late Prem Persaud of Vryheid’s Lust North, East Coast Demerara.

(By Shirley Thomas)