…Region Six number two performer, Yugeeta Kumar, makes grandparents proud

DEFYING the odds stacked against her since birth, Yugeeta Kumar, of Grant 1651 Crabwood Creek has emerged as the Region Six, number two, top performer and the 17th overall in the country with 14 Grade Ones and two Grade Twos at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

The Line Path Secondary School student was eagerly awaiting her results because she was confident she did well, and wanted to make sure she was the first to break the news to her grandparents who have been caring for her since she was an infant.

After her parents separated while she was a newborn, and her mother left two weeks after giving birth to her, she was left in the care of her grandparents.
Her father helped a little financially while she was in primary school, but her grandparents used their pensions and whatever little savings along with the help of an uncle, to ensure she received an education.

Being brought up by a former police officer she was very disciplined and humble and recognised the struggles being made for her, so she did everything possible not to disappoint them.

The hard work she put in has paid off, and her success is much sweeter since grandma and grandpa are all smiles and cannot keep from telling the world how proud they are of their `daughter’s’ success.

“I know she would have done well… she is a very brilliant child from since she was little. We are very proud of her,” Madan Kumar, her grandfather, age 72, said with tears of joy streaming down his face as his voice started to break.

The aspiring bio-chemist now has another hurdle to overcome and it is seeking the public’s help in acquiring a scholarship to pursue her dreams, since she knows her grandparents cannot afford to send her to the university on their pensions.

Given the circumstance in her life, she wants to make a lasting impact in whatever she sets out to do and sees bio-chemists as being able to do just that.

“Bio-chemists have made tremendous impact throughout the world and have been responsible for huge numbers of scientific breakthroughs in the areas of medicine, agriculture, veterinary science and biotechnology to name a few, this is what drives me to know how much you can offer to the world. Hence the reason why I want to follow this path… it does not limit you to one area of study but to find out so much more.”

Her advice to students preparing to take the examinations next year is to try to be prepared ahead of time, remain focused on their goals and find a balance between work and leisure.