Feryal Khan, a 36-year-old small business owner with an indomitable spirit, has emerged as the 2023 Best Graduating Student for the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus (UGBC).
Feryal Khan – 023 Best Graduating Student for the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus [Photo credit: UG]
36-year-old Khan completed a Bachelor of Science in Management, which is offered by UG’s School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.95.
ACADEMIC JOURNEY
Hailing from East Canje, Berbice, Khan embarked on a four-year journey in 2019 to earn her Degree in Management.
In a class of over 40 individuals, she found herself ranking second in age. Doubts crept in as she compared her academic background to her younger peers, but she chose determination over despair.
I thought to myself, ‘What am I doing here?’ I want to acquire a degree, but these younger folks have many more CSEC subjects than I do, and doubts started rolling around in my head.
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today,” she quoted Franklin Roosevelt, articulating the pivotal moment when she decided to overcome her uncertainties and give her best to each assessment.
With that thought [Franklin Roosevelt’s quote] echoing in my mind, I decided I would work to the best of my ability in every assessment that came my way, and I said a prayer for God’s guidance and the ability to overcome all obstacles that came in my path.
LIFE’S PRESUMED TIMELINE
Feryal’s journey mirrored the shared experiences of her fellow graduates. As she reflected on her early 20s, she acknowledged the unpredictability of life’s timeline, emphasising the importance of resilience and adapting to unforeseen challenges.
When I was in my early 20s, I had my life planned out like many other young ladies. Have a Diploma and degree by a certain age, married by such time, and have a family by age 27 and the full nine yards. However, we can plan all we want, but what the almighty has destined for us, and the timeline on it, takes precedence.
The transition from face-to-face to online learning marked a significant shift, but this 36-year-old’s determination remained unshaken.
PERSONAL HURDLES
She shared a personal hurdle – a challenging Spanish course worth eight credits – and how she confronted illness in her fourth year, contemplating a hiatus. However, her resilience prevailed.
GRADUATION PREDICTION
The joy of being named the Best Graduating Student brought back memories of a visit to her academic advisor in her third year, accompanied by her 10-year-old niece.
Feryal Khan is flanked by supportive relatives at the Tain Campus, Berbice, for the 22nd Convocation ceremony of the UGBC. [Photo credit: UG]
The young girl, looking at the past valedictorians’ wall, tapped on the empty spot for 2023, confidently predicting her aunt’s success.
At that time, I looked at her, smiled, and replied, ‘One can hope.’ She predicted well, I must say, and I hope my achievement can inspire both my niece and nephew to persevere and excel in all areas of their lives.
Quoting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Feryal acknowledged the sacrifices, especially the sleepless nights.
“The heights of great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight, but while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.”
As this business owner reflected on the many sleepless nights she endured, she offered words of encouragement to current and prospective students.
View the University of Guyana as the window of opportunities that would lead to your personal growth and success.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
Khan’s mother was a small business owner prior to retiring, and her father was a hire car driver who plied the Georgetown to Berbice route for some 26 years until his demise.
As this small business owner gracefully accepted her accolade, her gratitude was evident.
She acknowledged her mother as her rock, expressing heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support that shaped her academic journey.
A poignant moment arose as she paid tribute to her late father, who instilled in his children an unwavering commitment to pursuing higher education.
Thank you to my mom for always being there for me. You’re my rock. My dear father, now deceased, but who demanded that each of his children settle for nothing less than a university education.
This Berbice resident’s sentiments extended beyond her immediate family, reaching out to siblings, niece, nephew, and a network of friends who formed her robust support system.
In a touching acknowledgment, she recognised that without this support, her achievement would not have been possible.
