– UG Berbice valedictorian urges fellow graduates to be catalyst for growth in Guyana

By Nafeeza Yahya
THE University of Guyana Berbice Campus Saturday evening held its graduation exercise, with educator Lori Lee Farley, the valedictorian, urging graduates to share their knowledge; for teachers especially, she said it was their duty to help children succeed spite their (teachers’) lack of adequate resources.

“We owe it to our nation’s children to help them succeed beyond test and examinations. We may not have all the tools, resources or facilities to fulfil our mandate, but let us try to be the kind of teachers we would like for our own children,”  she passionately stated to resounding applause.

It marked the 15th convocation ceremony for the Tain Campus.

A total of 225 students graduated from various faculties. Acting President Moses Nagamootoo delivered congratulatory remarks to the graduating class of 2016.

“We owe it to our nation’s children to help them succeed beyond test and examinations. We may not have all the tools, resources or facilities to fulfil our mandate, but let us try to be the kind of teachers we would like for our own children,”  she passionately stated to resounding applause.

He said that the graduates had every right to be proud of being students of the University of Guyana.

He reminded them that when they look at the leadership of the country, they can see that the majority of the Cabinet, including President Granger, were students of the University of Guyana.

A graduate himself of the university, the Prime Minister stated that being a product of the country’s university gives a sense of pride, having been educated by your country and it makes you feel proud to serve and give back.

“My wife and I both being graduates of the university, I believe it gives you a peculiar orientation that at the end of it all, though it has been long and arduous work , you feel that your country has given you
something and in return you may feel as though you have duty to serve your country.

“And today as you pass through the university with your degrees, diplomas and certificates, you should do so proudly as graduates from a university that has grown now in its 50th year and would have helped in many ways to contribute to the leadership of Guyana and to its technical and social development.”

The valedictorian, a very passionate educator for over 24 years, graduated with a BSc in Education and quoted Robert Nehan in saying: “ We are not just teachers, we are managers of the world’s greatest resources, children.” She urged her fellow educators to utilise their knowledge to help mould the future generations.

“The future of the world is in your classrooms, regardless of the lack of adequate salaries, support and encouragement from parents and stakeholders.

Farley urged the entire graduating class to be facilitators of growth and development of Guyana after having been well equipped with the requisite tools for the job.

“You are the new exemplars of the nation and exactly what Guyana needs; let’s embrace our country with love and a commitment to making lives better for ourselves and others.

“But what is expected more than anything else is for us to act as a catalyst for growth and development of our country.

“Let us turn up the volume of our contributions to Guyana’s development, it is our obligation,” she stated.

Farley attributed her success to God and the staff at the Berbice campus, whom she stated helped to make the journey to success a pleasant one. She also called on the administration to ensure equal opportunities are presented as is to their Turkeyen counterparts.

Guest speaker, Professor Jaipaul Singh, spoke on the importance of education and like the Prime Minister charged the graduating class to be proud of their UG education and to give back .

“You must be proud of your university, your education and your qualifications. Always keep your chin in the air and your feet in the ground.

“UG has produced some of the best graduates in the world and it is continuing to do the same because of the personal sacrifice of your lecturers/and supporting staff.  Never forget your university when you make good in life. Please give back something. Be part of the Alumni.

“Keep in touch.  UG has made many of us (appx 25,000 graduates since 1968) of what we are today, but many of us have neglected our beloved university. Remember the famous words of one of the USA’s great Presidents: “Do not ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” The same goes for UG, “what you can do for your University.”