“I choose teaching because I wanted to help mould our children,” Roshan Samuels

Every teacher devotes his or her life to education for reasons as individual to them as any other part of their identity. Still, it usually isn’t the money, and it isn’t the two-month July- August vacation. 

Miss Roshan Samuels

Reasons for becoming a teacher are more profound than that, and while they are personal, they are almost all united by the desire to impact peoples’ lives.

One person who has been impacting the lives of our hinterland students is 18-year-old Roshan Samuels. Although still young, she noted that she aims to give back to her community. 

Roshan, who hails from Santa Mission – a little haven nestling on the Kamuni River in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), was born on 8th January 2002, to Martina and Roy Samuels at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). 

She attended the Santa Nursery School then the Santa Primary School. After writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), she was awarded a spot at the Soesdyke Secondary School but was later transferred to Uitvlugt Secondary School. 

Reflecting on her childhood memories, Roshan disclosed that she was raised in a Christian home and enjoyed going to Sunday School. 

“I was raised in a Christian home where every Sunday, I looked forward to going to Sunday school, which was not very far from home. During the time, I could remember that after school, I would get away with my cousins to go swimming, playing in the sand about the mission. Sometimes I would go to places about the country with my grandmother because she was a missionary worker.”

She continued, “Whenever Christmas came, we would have concerts, and I would sing and dance. Also, in September, when our village had heritage, I would participate in activities. What was exciting too was when my parents would bring me to Georgetown.” 

This Primary School teacher had many goals and plans to make her dad proud, especially at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, but on Tuesday the 24th April 2018, those hopes and dreams were snatched away following the passing of her dad. 

Hearing about the devastating news, Roshan was plunged into a state of mourning and could barely manage to study for her upcoming examinations. 

“My family said, I shouldn’t write my exams that year, but my dad and I had a conversation about my future the night before he died, he said ‘focus on your exams, be an independent woman and make mommy and daddy proud, I know you can do this.’ Those exact words came back to me, and I told myself I have to do this for my father. With my mom by my side, I went to write my exams.”

Despite her dad’s passing, her determination was more potent, and went ahead and sat her CSEC examinations. She graduated later in 2018 doing reasonably well. 

Not satisfied there, she applied to Global Technology and completed some computer courses and passed with As. She was also titled Senior Youth Ambassador with the Rights of the Child Commission. 

One year after completing her secondary education, the 18-year-old applied at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). On the 15th of October 2019, she was employed as a teacher at the Santa Primary School. The young teacher explained that she wanted to become a teacher in a bid to give back to her community. 

I choose to teach because as a product of Santa Mission, I wanted to give back to my community with my service; I also joined because most of my family members were, and some are still teachers. I feel a connection to it. However, I have not yet started CPCE simply because of the global pandemic. I am hoping to start as soon as possible.

Roshan explained that she owes her accomplishments to her family despite not being where she wants to be. 

I am not where I want to be academically, but the far I have come, I owe it all to my family, my dad who worked hard to make sure I receive the education I deserve and my mom who is here with me still supporting me in every possible way.

When asked if this is a life-long career, the young teacher replied;

Of course, I see this as a lifelong career. I mean, why would I want to leave something I truly love? It is said that today’s children are our future, so my aim as an educator is along with other educators to mould these children to create the future they want and deserve.

Roshan’s advice to aspiring teachers is to love the job as it is more than just going to school to write on chalkboards. 

My advice to anyone who is joining the teaching profession is to love your job. It is more than just going to school and writing on chalkboards. Each day you should be going in exciting to meet your students and colleagues, to be excited to teach them something new. I love my job. I adore my students because they do not only have me yelling at times; they make me laugh when I am having a bad day.

Roshan’s biggest dream is to attend the University of Guyana as this is what her father wanted. Besides, she would be using her power as a Youth Ambassador to educate Guyana’s children about their rights and responsibilities.