UWI law valedictorian, Suraj Sakal: Live life, or die trying

LIVE the best life you can!

It's a simple message but for law student Suraj Sakal it means embracing the possibility of dying at any minute now.

Some may find the 22-year-law student's philosophy to be reckless and a bad influence on others. You see, the valedictorian of the 2020 graduating class of the University of the West Indies' law faculty said he skipped classes many times to lime with friends, while classmates were studying round the clock. His free-spiritedness did not stop him from attaining full class honours and he is now enrolled at Hugh Wooding Law School.

Sakal said he lives by principles adapted from a quote from late American technology innovator, Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs which made him think about life in an unconventional way.

His thinking is if he were to die at any time, he wants to know he lived doing what he wanted, so if that meant not attending a class, then so be it. But Sakal warns that this mantra must be matched with a clear goal.

“This is a reckless disregard for rules. Most people are seeking happiness, enjoy the moment. I say I go with the greater want, if I want to lime more than I want to be in class then I won’t be in class.”

He spoke frankly in an interview at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, near where he rents an apartment.

Sakal said he knows what he wants out of life but isn't sharing what his goal is, except that, in ten years, he may not be a practising attorney.

So why study law?

“At this point in my life I want to do law. I don’t know if ten years down the road, I want to do something else. I love to learn, so I am a student of life. I believe that while living in the moment, I must also think about the future and that is what motivates me. I always do what is the greater want, so I am always living my best life.”

From his dress style, Sakal said people may feel he belongs in a rock band. But based his conversation, he comes across as someone who belongs in a classroom, teaching others to discover who they are and to live their best life.

“I missed some of my tutorial and missed classes and did not really study but that is not for everybody. I am not telling people don’t study, I am saying don’t forget to live your life,” he said in between removing his mask to laugh and light a Dunhill cigarette around the windy savannah.

Sakal shared his views on life in his speech in last Tuesday's virtual graduation, stressing that he lives to do his best, if that means winning every all fours game in the halls of UWI, or drinking with friends the night before an exam, or writing an exam paper – each act receives his best effort.

He does not want to be confined to accepted norms – his neck and arm tattoos or piercings are not who he is, and anyone who judges him for it, he hopes that they are judging him to the best of their ability and are happy.

Sakal recalled on one occasion being awake for three days straight doing whatever he wanted. He laughed as he paraphrased an answer from US rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) who once said sleep is for broke people.

“There is no map to success. I don’t have the formula. You have to know yourself. There are two things you have to accept, sacrifices must be made and there are consequences. If you can live with the consequence of missing a class or something then do what you want.”

For Sakal, each moment is truly his last. He said on his way walking to the interview he was contended that should he die while crossing the road he was dying happily, knowing that he did what he wanted, without fear.

“Yes it is selfish,” he quipped when asked if he found his view a bit conceited. “I am satisfied with who I am. I raise my personal standard. Do what you want. If you are miserable doing something then why are you doing it? I am not saying to have a reckless disregard for other. Everything I do, I think about others far more than they think about me.”

He said the current school system needs to change in order to allow children to reshape their mentality and, more so, their mindset that there is one beaten path to success.

The eldest of two boys, Sakal said his parents accept his seemingly vie-ki-vie attitude but they do caution him, from time to time, which he accepts.

He stands by what he believes, however.

“Live the best life you could live. Enjoy every single moment. Fear nothing. Go after your dreams. Always be mindful of the future, where you might end up and the people around you.”