WHEN 29-year-old Keisha Jackson reflects on her life’s journey, she does so not with pride alone, but with a clear message: “My story is not just one of personal triumph; it’s a narrative of hope and the belief that even in the face of adversity, we can rise, build, and inspire for a greater future.”
A daughter of Georgetown, Guyana, a country on the frontlines of the climate crisis, Keisha’s story is one defined by grit, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to rewrite the script for herself and those who look up to her.

Education was never guaranteed for her family. Her grandparents never made it to high school, but they planted in the generations after them a belief that education could change lives. For Keisha, that legacy began at the University of Guyana, where she embarked on her tertiary education determined to honour her family’s hopes.

But her path was anything but smooth. Behind the lectures and textbooks lay a heavy burden — a battle with depression that shadowed her throughout her three years at UG. The loss of one of her parents during this time made the weight of academic pressure even harder to bear. “I often found myself overwhelmed,” she recalled.

In search of a lifeline and a fresh start, Keisha made a bold move: she left Guyana for the United States, enrolling in community college to study Computer Science — a field that finally ignited her passion and taught her the critical lesson that mental health and academic success must go hand in hand.

At the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Keisha thrived. She didn’t just study; she immersed herself in student life, earning membership in honour societies Phi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Her curiosity for technology and innovation led her to the programming club, where she earned a chance to conduct research for Microsoft through the prestigious Goldman Sachs Local College Collaborative in 2022.

Keisha’s dedication opened new doors. She successfully transferred to Columbia University, where she rekindled a childhood dream that once felt out of reach: becoming an architect. At Columbia, she dove headfirst into rigorous study and research, earning the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship and securing a National Science Foundation opportunity in architectural research. She was also named a Congress for National Urbanism Scholar — a testament to her growing vision for urban spaces that respect the natural world.
But Keisha’s ambitions reach far beyond personal accolades. Deeply connected to her roots in Guyana, a country defined by lush coastlines but increasingly vulnerable to the rising tides of climate change, she wants her life’s work to make a difference. Her ultimate dream is to become a sustainability architect, designing resilient, climate-smart buildings that not only withstand a changing environment but contribute to healing it.

“Earning an Ivy League degree from Columbia University as the first in my family to do so was a monumental achievement, a testament to my perseverance and the opportunities that have emerged from my struggles,” she said, her words carrying a weight that echoes far beyond the walls of academia.
Now, standing on the threshold of a new chapter, Keisha Jackson is not just an Ivy League graduate; she’s a symbol of what is possible when resilience meets opportunity. For young people in Guyana and beyond, her story is a reminder that no challenge is insurmountable, and that sometimes, even the roughest beginnings can build foundations strong enough to change the world.