BAVINA SOOKDEO
A former student of Swaha Hindu College, 18-year-old, Kimberly Samaroo has earned an open scholarship in the cognate grouping of creative studies.
The Sangre Grande resident shared that academic excellence has always been a persistent goal of hers throughout all her academic exams. Despite her determination, however, she admitted, “Honestly, I have never envisioned myself winning this scholarship, but my family and teachers knew that I was capable of doing so.”
When she first learnt she had won the scholarship, she described her reaction as “shocked,” quickly followed by “happiness.”
“This scholarship is a huge achievement and celebration for my family, and I am beyond elated to make them this proud.”
Samaroo comes from a close-knit family with three siblings – two brothers and one sister. Her mother is an auditing assistant, while her father works as a gardener.
At the CAPE level, she pursued biology, chemistry, physical education and sport, alongside the compulsory subjects, Caribbean and communication studies.
Her exceptional achievements in these areas have paved the way for her to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a medical doctor. She intends to apply to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to pursue medical studies in the near future.
Questioned on winning the scholarship and what kind of effort and dedication it required, Samaroo said, “Winning this scholarship was the result of consistent effort, dedication, and thorough preparation. It required focused research, time management, and a strong commitment to my academic and personal goals. Along the way, resilience in the face of setbacks and learning from failures helped me stay determined and focused. I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to use this scholarship to further my education and make a positive impact.”
[caption id="attachment_1126794" align="alignnone" width="768"] Sangre Grande resident Kimberly Samaroo earned an open scholarship in creative studies. -[/caption]
Following a set study schedule and focusing on one task at a time while reviewing regularly was Samaroo’s strategy for success. Her preparation also involved strategic studying habits. “Doing past-paper questions and repeatedly looking at videos. She highlighted the value of resources like CAPE YouTubers offering crash courses, past-paper reviews and theory lesson reviews.
To balance academics with other aspects of her life, she ensured she stayed organised and set aside time for relaxation and activities she enjoys.
“However, sometimes sacrifices had to be made to ensure all my work was completed on time.”
Samaroo’s journey was not without its challenges.
“A challenge that I encountered was being overwhelmed with the large quantity of workload, but I overcame this problem by less procrastination, being determined even when not motivated and watching videos as I have realised that I am a huge visual learner.”
Despite her hard work, she credits her success to her family, teachers, and the staff at Swaha Hindu College.
“My
