As a child growing up, Deandra Daniels aspired to become a doctor, and by the age of 16, she had already narrowed down her specialty – Neurosurgery.
But the white coat she once aspired to wear has been replaced by a different kind of armor – the art of effective communication. We will take you back to her childhood to better understand Daniels’s extraordinary metamorphosis.
Deandra Daniels as a child to now as an adult
A BITTERSWEET CHILDHOOD
Grew up in Parfait Harmony on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) and Festival City in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Deandra painted her childhood as a bittersweet period.
Deandra and her mother, Pamela Atwell.
She recalled navigating the complexities of shared custody after her parents’ separation at the tender age of two.
There were good times and bad, but the good outweighed the bad in my book. I learnt to read at two years old after my Mother and Grandmother would read me books and point at the words, so I picked it up along the way. I was always the tallest and most talkative child in my class, and I always had a lot of friends. People naturally gravitated towards me, and I loved this.
I was in dance, music, and modeling as a child, as I was encouraged to not only pursue academia. I did the long, short, and high jump and played football too. I was bullied in my first and second year of Secondary School, and that resulted in me struggling with my self-esteem throughout adolescence. With help from my Mother and the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama, I rebuilt my own self-image.
EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS
Her mother’s only child, Deandra, attended two different primary and secondary schools. In 2017, she graduated from Christ Church Secondary with 10 subjects and copped the Best Food Nutrition and Health Student Award.
I was determined to take a gap year before attending University, so I travelled a bit and came back home, where I signed up for a packaged course at Global Technology. I have four certificates in Computer Fundamentals.
After returning home, she attended the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama to pursue her lifelong dream. At the age of 17, she was one of the youngest students to ever enroll in the school.
She graduated with credit from the institution with a Diploma in Theatre Arts and Drama and also copped the Best Playwright Student Award.
Initially drawn to the sciences, this 23-year-old in 2018 enrolled at the University of Guyana as a Biology major, fuelled by her childhood dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.
However, her love for creativity and writing eventually led her to switch after the first year to Communication Studies. She obtained a Diploma and Bachelor’s Degree (Distinction) in Communication Studies.
From the age of four, I wanted to be a Medical Doctor. By age 16, I had narrowed it down to Neurosurgeon. There was something I did not factor in because of my love of reading: I had developed near-excellent writing skills and an overactive imagination. The creative side of me was stronger than the scientific side, and I easily got bored in my major. Not being able to exercise my creativity in the world of academia was proving to be emotionally taxing, though I do not regret my time in Biology.
It was time well spent, lessons well learned, and skills well developed. When I switched to Communication, I was seduced by the prospect of having to constantly write. I secretly enjoyed my long paper assignments and research projects as they challenged me. Even when I was wrong, I was determined to go harder and get better. Switching to Communication Studies was like a breath of fresh air, and everything fell into perspective.
CHALLENGES OF UG
While her time at UG was not smooth sailing, this former Christ Church student noted it was also fun.
She recounted the hurdles she faced during the first week of pursuing Biology and even adjusting to the evening classes when she switched to Communications studies.
But I had an edge on things because I had been a year ahead of my colleagues, so I was the go-to person for campus life information. I had also figured out a formula, which I shared with my friends: do your assignments over a span of 3-5 days so you don’t get overstimulated. I was a full-time student until my 3rd year when I started doing part-time jobs, but I still had it easier than some of the students because we went from on-campus to online learning at the snap of a finger.
Another challenge was financial hurdles, but despite those roadblocks, she persevered, showcasing her determination and resilience.
A PROUD ACHIEVEMENT SHARED: A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
This part-time Oil Media Consultant at Adept Media and Writer at Beyond Magazine graduated in November 2023 alongside her mother, who completed her Master’s Degree.
It is a great achievement, that was the easy part; the hard part is adjusting to the world outside of academia. It has been a goal of mine to attend the University and Graduate ever since I was four years old, and my Mother would take me to her classes back then. It really is a dream come through.
According to Deandra, her mother is her greatest friend, and she was “happy to make her extremely proud” and watch her attain her goals.
Deandra and her mother at their 2023 graduation
She is my inspiration on some bad days, I seek her knowledge and advice for just about everything, so there was no one better to share the moment with me. The first time, we didn’t fully understand the impact we had made in society, but the second time, the way people rallied around was truly heartwarming.
WORDS OF WISDOM: BALANCING ACT FOR SUCCESS
For those treading a similar path, Deandra offers valuable advice:
You have to remember what is important- your personal life or studies? If you picked one, you are wrong. Both are extremely important. Find a balance between the two because they can really help you to unlock your maximum potential. Get a calendar and plot things out so that they won’t clash and cause unnecessary chaos in your life. Good luck or break a leg for the aspiring actors.”=
FUTURE HORIZONS
Noting that she is not one to make plans but allow them to unfold, Deandra has her sights on becoming an A-1 Communication Specialist, elevating her acting career, and building an empire for generational wealth. Marriage and children also find a prominent place in her aspirations.
