Varsha Ramlochansingh, Member, Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali
Earning an additional scholarship was a mere consequence of the efforts put in to achieve my main goal of studying medicine. From a young age, whether it stemmed from a natural innate calling or the admiration I had towards my eldest sister who currently practices as an Endocrinologist in the UK, medicine was, and still is, my passion.
The journey to success was multifactorial with great credit going to the staff of my Alma Mata, Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College. Here I was bestowed with not only academic knowledge but rather a holistic development including, but not limited to, lawn tennis, table tennis, Latin and Indian dancing.
My parents, Kumar and Vashtie Ramlochansingh, were and will always be, my pillars to success. I have achieved all I have because of them. From pick-ups and drop-offs, to random hugs and words of support, their love always shined through.
Sunday morning service at the Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali awarded me with inspiration and the driving force to push forward with all my might. One lesson of note that proved to be highly practical was to “surround yourself with good company”. Thankfully it was easy to do so as I was fortunate to have highly motivated friends. We worked tirelessly together but also made time to relax since balance is key.
I genuinely loved studying. I was always a curious and inquisitive person, the qualities which I believe are necessary for learning. I was never afraid to question anything taught to me. Hence, I urge you to always question everything; never accept anything at face value. This is my secret to success.
I can vividly recall the many late nights studying with my brother, who usually kept me company until 2 a.m. Although I tried to abide by a study timetable, this was not always the case as assignment deadlines had to be met. It was difficult to juggle school work, SBAs, labs and lessons as I often found myself fatigued with this monotonous schedule. This hurdle was overcome when I evaluated what was most beneficial to me. Ultimately, I decided to stop lessons a few months before exams so I could have more time for myself and individual studies, which turned out to be one of the better decisions I’ve made.
Living next to a bar proved to be a challenge in view of the predominant late-night music sound offs. Nevertheless, I was able to achieve 8 distinctions at the CSEC level placing 5th in the Caribbean in Chemistry. This was of course followed by all ones and the acquisition of an Additional Scholarship in Sciences with further placement within the Caribbean in Chemistry Unit 1 (4th) and Unit 2 (15th). Currently, I am studying medicine at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
I remain grateful to all factors, both positive and negative, as it gave me an indication of my strong and weak points which I can proudly say have contributed to my success and overall growth as an individual.
As my journey through life continues, I look forward to performing to the best of my abilities in all endeavours. If I had to advise anyone on how to go about achieving the success I have had to date, in the words of Albert Einstein, I’ll say this, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
Sitaram.
