Karisha earns Vessigny’s first scholarship since 2010

BUSINESS student Karisha Rajkumar feels humbled and grateful for having brought Vessigny Secondary School its first scholarship in 11 years. The aspiring accountant said she still cannot believe it.

The 19-year-old student wrote the CAPE examination last year and got grade ones in both units for management of business, accounting, economics, communication studies and Caribbean studies. She earned an open scholarship.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced the 100 scholarships.

She recalled initially hoping she could earn a scholarship, but after the Education Ministry announced they were being reduced from 400 annually to 100, she didn't think it was possible.

"I didn't have much hope again after that," she told Newsday.

Several friends and relatives learnt of her achievement even before she did.

"My mom (Marsha) is self-employed, so I was helping her out (selling pholourie) and I didn't even know, because I didn't have internet at the time. Then my uncle called and I went home to see, and then I got the call from the principal, my friends, my family. I was so excited that I didn't know what to do."

She said her mother and her father, Ken, have been hugging and kissing her nonstop, as they are very excited for her.

The last person to earn a scholarship at the school was Jochelle Fortune, who earned a national scholarship in 2010.

Asked what it was like doing exams during a global pandemic was, Rajkumar said, "My anxiety was really bad, but it had this teacher online called Mr Sammy: he was giving free Zoom classes and he was really good."

Unlike most students who used a tablet, laptop or desktop computer for online classes, she used her cellphone.

She said had it not been for this scholarship, she could not have afforded tertiary education.

She lives in Icacos and did not have direct transport to and from school. She'd get "a drop" to Fullarton in a maxi, then wait at least 45 minutes for another one. But she was never late. She said she'd reach school around 7.50 am.

In form three, she chose science as the field she would venture into for forms four and five. But after just a week, she said, she realised she had preferred business.

"Then, my teacher, Miss Ross, helped me get out that class and then I had to get new books and everything.

"It's because in form three, we were introduced to POA (principles of accounts) and I really liked it."

She said her Vessigny experience was great and praised teachers including: "Miss Emanis, Mr Thackoor, Mr Shah, Miss Ragoonath, Miss Bissoon, Miss Ramsaran and Miss Nedd."

Marlene Emanis, the school's acting vice-principal, said she was elated at the news and described Rajkumar as a "model student."

"We are super excited for her. We are really proud as a school. The entire staff and even our stakeholders are excited.

"When I taught her in form four and five, she topped the class in all her subjects. Her scores in all her subjects were always over 80 (out of 100). She was always an excellent student, she was a school prefect, she was involved in the school's co-operative society…she is very humble, participated in competitions on behalf of the school sometimes. And she was even our valedictorian."

Rajkumar said she hasn't decided on a university yet, but looks forward to doing so.