IN a remarkable achievement, 23-year-old Nareema Alli, a prominent news presenter and reporter in Berbice, emerged as the Best Graduating Student in Agriculture at the 22nd Convocation of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC).

The ceremony, held on November 18 at Tain, Corentyne, celebrated the academic prowess of the young media professional.
Despite facing numerous constraints during the COVID-19 lockdown, including her responsibilities at Dave’s Television Station (DTV-8) in New Amsterdam, where she has been working for the past six years, Miss Alli secured an impressive Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7. Her dedication and resilience were evident, navigating the challenges of the pandemic while excelling in her academic pursuits.

Born and raised in the rural community of Vryheid Village, West Canje, Alli is the third of five daughters of Moheed Alli and Rohanie Gaj.
Growing up as the middle child, she found inspiration from her two elder sisters and, in turn, became a positive influence on her younger siblings.

Reflecting on her childhood, Alli shared anecdotes of climbing her grandmother’s guava tree and exploring the trenches in her community to catch small crabs and fishes. Despite strict parenting, she emphasised the valuable lessons she learned about family cohesion, home economics, and morality.
“Alli’s journey from Lochaber Primary School in West Canje to the St. Therese’s Primary School in New Amsterdam and later to New Amsterdam Secondary (Multilateral) School was marked by academic excellence.”

Commending her Grade 6 teacher, Miss Andrea Mangra, for being the driving force behind her success, Alli continued her academic journey, excelling in high school and choosing the science stream in 2015. Credible grades in various subjects, including Agricultural Science, English, Biology, and Mathematics, showcased her commitment to academic excellence.

After achieving outstanding results in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 2017, Alli took an unconventional path. Opting not to pursue the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), she stumbled upon an advertisement for a news reporter position at DTV-8.

Over the years, she not only developed her skills in news reporting but also faced challenges such as power outages, failed internet services, and community disturbances during online classes. Despite these obstacles, Alli maintained her commitment to education and her job.

As she prepares to transition to a full-time role in the field of agriculture, Alli expressed sentiments of nostalgia about leaving news reporting, a job that has played a significant role in her personal and professional growth.
Looking ahead, she envisions pursuing higher education, aiming for a master’s and eventually a doctorate in the field of agriculture. Alli’s unwavering commitment to education and her recent completion of the Conversational Spanish course reflect her dedication to continuous learning and personal development.
Alli additionally recently finished the Conversational Spanish course provided by the University of the West Indies (UWI), as part of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship.