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For two years, Ananda Rampersad commuted almost three hours daily from Tableland to Penal to attend school at Shiva Boys’ Hindu College.
On Thursday, her dedication paid off when she received news that she had received an additional scholarship in Modern Studies. This was one of six scholarships awarded to Shiva Boys’ Hindu College students this year. This achievement marked a milestone for the school, a fitting tribute to the efforts of recently retired principal Dexter Sakal, who served the institution for decades.
At her Tableland home, Ananda, now a first-year law student, expressed gratitude to her family and God for her accomplishment.
She said she saw the long commute not as a burden but as a chance to bond with her parents, Deokie and Narine Rampersad, who took turns taking her to school.
“It wasn’t a problem. I always knew education was a top priority for them. They taught me that with hard work, anything is possible,” Ananda said.
The scholarship winner said she did not expect a scholarship but credited her success to consistent effort and long hours of study.
“My parents would wake up with me at 2 am to study. I would do a couple of hours, take a nap, then wake up at 6 am to go to school.
“I didn’t expect a scholarship. I just put in the hours, studied hard, and focused on my goals,” she said.
Smiling and hugging her parents, Ananda said their resilience inspired her as in 2016, her family lost everything in a fire that destroyed their home. Back then, Ananda was about to write the Secondary Entrance Assessment examination.
She said the entire family learned a valuable lesson.
“We lost everything. My parents worked hard to rebuild, showing me that resilience is key.
“My parents have shown me that with faith, anything is possible,” she said. “They taught me that you can rise above any challenge. No matter how tough life gets, with God and hard work, you can achieve anything.”
She said the scholarship was not just a reward, but a symbol of what was possible when you put God, family, and education at the center of your life.
Meanwhile, Ananda’s mother commended her commitment to study even during the most challenging times.
“Teachers were always there, ensuring that Ananda was prepared for exams,” Deokie said. “She never came home saying she had a free day. We are thankful to Robert Village Hindu School, St Stephens College, and Shiva Boys’ for their constant support.”
Deokie also stressed the importance of faith in their family’s success.
“I teach my children that they must put God first, pray, and work hard. That’s the way to succeed,” she said.
Rampersad’s father Narine added that balance is crucial for success.
“We used to take our daughters on hikes to help them find balance in their lives,” he said. “You have to spend quality time with them and teach them to be self-motivated.”
Other scholarship winners from Shiva Boys’ Hindu College: Jonah Boodjarrat – Natural Sciences
Jameel Castillo – Business
Nashawn Brown – Creative
Darion Jagdeo – General
Ricardo Jhilmit – Creative
Krysta Khan – Modern
Tamara Ramsahai – Business