Only the second Vincentian to become valedictorian at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Ateisha Bishop is encouraging young people to find a balance that will help them become “well-rounded and holistic individuals.”{{more}}

The 22-year old Bishop, who went off to the university three years ago, graduated with First Class Honours, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with Education and is now a teacher at the St Martin’s Secondary School. Bishop, who delivered her speech at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on September 12, said that she felt proud to be selected by hundreds of her fellow graduands to represent them.

The petite young lady, who is a resident of Campden Park, attended the Lowman’s Leeward Anglican Primary School, the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and the SVG Community College and pointed out in her Valedictory speech that in the quest towards self-actualization it was important to reflect and analyze the course traveled. She described the path as “rugged”, with numerous hills and valleys, and believed that this molded her and her peers to become “excellent ambassadors of the light rising from the west.” Bishop said the academic knowledge gained has helped students develop the necessary skills to cope with the “trembling economies of today” and she believed that UWI Campus grounds had become a model of true Caribbean integration.

Admitting that the “rugged” times included assignment deadlines, personal mishaps, family issues and financial burdens, Bishop revealed that it was the extra-curricular activities which served as good stress relievers. A former member of the steel pan club, football team and Vincentian Association, Bishop was of the opinion that having and maintaining a balanced and holistic lifestyle was one of the keys to success. She also noted that having a strong family base and good friendships also made the pressures of coping less stressful.

Her gratitude was also extended to the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines for offering student loans, the Port Authority for affording her scholarships from her secondary to community college years and the UWI family.

The young lass, however, believed that it was critical for more of the business community players to get involved within the education sector. She emphasized that whether it was through financial assistance, the refurbishment of educational institutions or giving school supplies, a little help to every student really eases the burdens. She also noted that there needed to be a more structured, focused and realistic career guidance programme for students so that children know the facts of the career they wished to pursue.