For many, the dream of attending university begins with encouragement, stability, and support. For twenty-four-year-old Rita Marcia Persaud, that dream began in the quiet spaces of loss, uncertainty, and resilience. Today, as she proudly walks across the University of Guyana’s graduation stage with a Bachelor of Science in Management, her story stands as a powerful reminder that beginnings do not determine destinies.
Rita grew up without the guidance of her parents. She lost her mother at a young age, and her father was absent from her life. Raised by her aunt, who provided as much love as she could with limited resources, Rita understood early that life had not paved an easy road for her. Still, she held firmly to one belief: the environment she was raised in would not be the environment she created for herself, nor for the family she hoped to build one day.
Her determination was strengthened by the words of a teacher who once told her, “Nothing and no one can lift you out of poverty except education. You can lose everything, but never your education.” That message became her anchor, echoing through the most challenging moments of her academic journey.
The past four years were far from simple. Rita navigated the transition from face-to-face classes, to online learning at the height of the pandemic, and back to the physical classroom again. She completed assignments during work outreaches, joined Zoom lectures from unfamiliar places, and submitted exams from field visits when her full-time job demanded more of her than expected. She balanced her studies alongside a small business, household responsibilities, and the emotional weight of family expectations.
There were nights when exhaustion brought her to tears. Days when the pressures of school, work, and life collided. Moments when she questioned whether she had the strength to continue. Yet through every struggle, she reminded herself of the battles she had already survived. Giving up was not an option.
Today, many people will see only her degree. But Rita knows that her achievement is made of much more. It is made of sacrifice, of time and money, of sleepless nights and missed moments. It is made of prayer, of faith, of perseverance. It is made of the courage of a little girl who refused to allow her circumstances to dictate her future.
Becoming the first-generation university graduate in her family is a milestone that fills Rita with both pride and emotion. As she walked across the University of Guyana’s stage, she felt as though she was walking not just for herself, but for every younger version of her who doubted, questioned, or feared that her dreams were too big.
Rita gives thanks to God for guiding her through what could have broken her. She extends heartfelt gratitude to her supportive partner, family, friends, and coworkers who stood beside her during the most difficult stretches of her journey. Their words of encouragement and unwavering belief added strength when her own felt weak.
She said her achievement is more than an academic victory. “It is proof that struggle can birth success, that small beginnings can grow into powerful stories, and that hope is stronger than hardship. It is also a message to other young people facing similar challenges: the path may not be easy, but it is possible.”
Today, Rita serves as the Assistant Housing Officer at the Regional Democratic Council in Region Six, where her dedication, discipline, and professionalism continue to make a meaningful impact. With her degree in hand and her spirit unshaken, she is ready to continue rewriting her family’s story and inspiring others along the way.
