–be it studies or cricket, Bhedesh Persaud is up for any challenge

WITH 22 Grade One passes and a single Grade Two pass, aspiring engineer Bhedesh Persaud emerged as Guyana’s top performer of the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations.

On Friday, after months of reviewing discrepancies, the Ministry of Education announced that Persaud was the top CSEC student. Following the announcement, Persaud told the Sunday Chronicle that he was happy about the results, but since his recognition took more than six months, he had not been thinking about them.

Now, he is preparing to sit his first year of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). He is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Natural Sciences. On Saturday, as he prepared for a long day of extra lessons, Persaud explained that he opted to write 23 subjects since he wanted to challenge himself.

“I wanted to challenge myself, because you only get to write CSEC once,” Persaud said, adding: “I think challenges motivate me to be a better person.”

Even so, he recounted that the major challenge with writing so many subjects was managing his time effectively. Of course he had a schedule that he wanted to adhere to, but that was not always possible. Amid his studies, he had to make time for his seven dogs along with his friends and family.

The subjects he wrote include: Additional Mathematics, General Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Human and Social Biology, Integrated Science, Agricultural Science, Geography, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, Economics, Office Administration, Spanish, Portuguese, Religious Education, Information Technology, Electronic Document Preparation and Management, Technical Drawing, Physical Education and Sport, English A and B. He also wrote Social Studies, which he scored his sole Grade Two pass in.

The young man was not only up to the task in his academics, but he has also been a strong cricketer, as he says, for the “better part” of his life. He is skilled as an all-rounder, where he functions as a top- order batsman and a bowler. He said, however, that cricket is just a hobby, and he is more focused on his studies.
Beyond his degree in Natural Sciences, he is hoping to one day become an engineer, either an aeronautical or mechanical engineer, since he has not settled on one as yet. Or, he said he may consider a career in the sciences.

For the time being, he is focused on excelling at CAPE, possibly topping the country again, and continuing to make his parents, teachers and friends proud.