KEANU Thomas, 17, is a resident of the lakeside community of Tapakuma, and is a Grade Four teacher at the Tapakuma Lake Primary School.He entered the teaching profession less than a year ago, after completing his secondary education at the Anna Regina Multilateral School, where he did well, securing eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, including six grade ones, one of which was a distinction in English A.

With a love for teaching, helping children and giving back to his community, Keanu applied for a teaching post at the Tapakuma Lake Primary School, and his application was successful. Soon after assuming duties as a teacher, he set his sight on attending the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) satellite centre at Anna Regina, and not long after, he applied to be formally trained as a teacher, and his application was accepted.

Thomas is happy to be given an opportunity to pursue his dreams of becoming a trained teacher. He told the Guyana Chronicle that upon completion of studies at CPCE, he intends to further his education at the University of Guyana.

Because most of his time is taken up at school and college, Thomas no longer gets the time to play cricket or football, or to go swimming as he used to before; but he views that sacrifice as necessary for his personal elevation, and is urging secondary school students to set their goals early, and work towards achieving them.

“Education is the pathway to a better life,” he advises.