“I choose sociology because I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives,” Grace Sam

Belief is a powerful thing. Some people have incredible self-belief stories, but most of us are given confidence and self-assurance by others. Slowly but surely, through their encouragement and support, we develop a stronger sense of self.

Grace Sam

At some point, someone saw you struggling and gave you hope. At some point, someone saw something in you that you didn’t yet see in yourself. Who you are today is a direct result of that person’s faith in you.

Belief, founded or unfounded, is incredibly powerful, and when someone else believes in us, it’s unforgettable. But one person who is working assiduously to make a difference in one’s life is 20-year-old Grace Sam. 

She was born on the 1st of March 2000 at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to Phillip and Pier Sam. 

Reflecting on her childhood, Grace is the youngest of five siblings and grew up in a small village called Ann’s Grove located on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). 

The young lady revealed that despite her childhood not being rough, it was not a walk in the park. She relayed that her father was a farmer and her mother worked tirelessly in her snackette to get her through school.

My brothers had it rough than I did because they needed to go to the farm before school and after school. I know how it feels to have little hence why I am so passionate about giving back to the less fortunate.

She attended the Ann’s Grove Nursery School then the Clonbrook Nursery School before hopping over to the Clonbrook Primary School. 

After writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Grace was awarded a spot at the Golden Grove Secondary School. She noted that it was never the school she imagined herself attending, and after the first year, she took a transfer to Bygeval Secondary School. 

In 2017, Grace graduated from the Bygeval Secondary School as a business student with eight students at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). 

According to Grace, she took a year to complete a few business studies courses before being granted a scholarship through the Ministry of the Presidency to study Sociology at the University of Guyana. 

She said that she always would analyze one’s behaviour from a very young age, which fascinated her. This same obsession sparked her love for Sociology. 

“To make it simple, I choose sociology because it is the stepping stone to my long-term goal. I also want to be able to make a difference in people’s life professionally. I find people to be very interesting, and I know what it feels like to be less fortunate.” 

She added, “I believe Society benefits because people with sociological training are better prepared to make informed decisions about social issues and take effective action to deal with them. I am just somebody trying to make people’s lives better. I want to help people to be able to reach their full potential and to be the best version of themselves.” 

When asked what she is passionate about, this young sociologist had this to say; 

Someone once told me that ‘whatsoever the mind of man can conceive and believe it will achieve.’ This is a quote I live by daily; hence I am passionate about youth development. I love to see youths operating to their full potentials and being active members of society.

Apart from God, the 20-year-old woman credited her success to her mother, whom she described as the “strongest woman I know.” 

From a child, she instilled good values in me, She taught me to contend and to trust the process, and for that, everything I am is because of her.

Grace would like to remind everyone that; “no matter where we came from, our current situation can not determine our outcome. I also understand that we are facing a pandemic, and many of us are struggling mentally, so let’s remember to check up on our strong friends. Let’s be kind to our fellow men, and work toward our national motto, which states we are one.” 

The sociologist foresees herself working to protect the rights of the children. She believes that today’s person is a result of the experiences we had as a child.

In addition to that, she also sees herself working as a juvenile court worker and thinks that everyone deserves a second chance, and she wants to help provide that opportunity where they can become active members of society.