As a child growing up, Deepa Amrita Odit never thought of becoming a pharmacist. Now, she is currently making big waves in the industry after graduating as the valedictorian for the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus. Odit, 24, read for a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and earned a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.98.
Deepa Odit, valedictorian from the Turkeyen Campus
The 24-year-old soft-spoken and highly confident young woman began her educational journey at the Dharmic Rama Krishna Nursery School and then continued at Rama Krishna Primary School, where she secured a spot at Queen’s College. After completing her secondary education, she was faced with choosing the next step, which was what she wanted to pursue as a career.
“My thoughts never went towards being a pharmacist, and it wasn’t one of those career options I wrote in those compositions in school that were on what I wanted to be when I grew up,” the Campbellville, Georgetown resident explained.
Odit relayed that her decision to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy at the nation’s premier tertiary institution came when she realised that she liked chemistry and wanted a career in the healthcare profession. She further noted that she grew to love certain aspects of the profession and is content with the choice she made.
Detailing her journey through UG, and more so over the past year in trying to cope with the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Odit said that the road she travelled to reach this stage was filled with many hardships but she, along with her colleagues, persevered.
During her powerful and uplifting valedictorian speech, Odit recalled:
“This journey for most, if not all of us, was not an easy one. It was one filled with self-doubt, anxiety, stress, tears, thoughts of dropping out, many overwhelming moments, especially with multiple deadlines hitting you all at once and constantly reciting the mantra ‘I just need to get through this week. Then we found ourselves amidst a pandemic.”
She added, “The last few months have been unconventional, hectic, filled with worry, difficulties, and many uncertainties, and it definitely was not how we expected to spend the last few months of our final semester. We didn’t know that our last day on campus would have really been our last day on campus until we were sitting at home behind the screens processing the news of a pandemic and transitioning to online learning.”
Moving forward, the former Queen’s College student said that there would be many highs and lows, but that is how life is.
“But it is how we handle those low moments is what matters. No matter what, keep going, continue learning and becoming the best versions of yourselves, create those opportunities or open those doors yourselves if you have to, but please keep going and celebrate your accomplishments no matter how little or big it may be,” she encouraged her fellow graduates.
Outside of academia, the young scholar enjoys spending quality time with those close to her, watching various TV shows and movies, and recently; learning and participating in a few home improvement projects she had at home.
