What began as a journey toward higher education became a test of resilience for two graduates who crossed the stage at the 4th Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) graduation ceremony on Tuesday at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).
Among the more than 3,800 graduates, including 276 from hinterland communities, were individuals whose academic achievements were shaped by profound personal loss.
For Rebecca Singh, all the way from Annai Village in Region Nine, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership became a way of persevering through one of the most difficult periods of her life.
The same year she enrolled in GOAL, she lost her husband, a figure she called a foundation in her life.
“Mentally, I was not prepared for this programme, nor emotionally, because I would have lost someone who was one of the foundations in my life, my husband,” she recalled while speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI).
The loss left her questioning whether she could continue. “I wanted to give up,” she said.
Yet, through determination and resilience, she completed the 18-month programme and graduated. Reflecting on the experience, she said the programme provides opportunities for people from all walks of life, regardless of where they live.
She also encouraged future students to develop strong time-management skills, noting that balancing coursework and personal responsibilities was one of the greatest challenges she faced.
Her story was echoed by fellow graduate Yannick Small of Region Two, who earned a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. For Small, the achievement is a tribute to his mother, a single parent who died from cancer in 2021.
“One of the key reasons why I did this master’s was for my mother,” Small said. “She always wanted the best for all her children.”
He described receiving the degree as an honour and a fulfilment of a goal that he and his mother once shared.
As a secondary school teacher, Small believes the qualification will also allow him to better support students facing behavioural and emotional challenges.
“Behaviour is a serious issue in the secondary school today,” he explained. He went on to add that the programme has equipped him with practical knowledge to better understand and support young people.
Established in 2021, the GOAL scholarship programme was launched to provide Guyanese with greater access to quality online education, initially aiming to award 20,000 scholarships between 2021 and 2025.
However, that number has surged to over 54,000, underscoring the impact of the government-funded initiative.