Another Kittitian female graduates in USA;
Zelia Archibald gains Doctor of Medicine degree
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| A beaming Zelia and her proud and humble parents |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SKNVIBES was recently informed that another Kittitian has done herself, family and the Federation proud when she graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC, USA.
A Doctor of Medicine degree was conferred on twenty-three-year-old Zelia Yanique Archibald of Taylor’s Range, Basseterre when she graduated from Howard University College of Medicine on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
According to information received from a family member, Archibald received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 2006, having performed at the highest attainable level (summa cum laude), and at that point successfully completing Phase One of the B.S./M.D. accelerated medical programme commenced two years prior to this achievement.
She was only one of six students who maintained the requirements of this rigorous course and one of 28 candidates selected for individual special awards from a group of 91 graduates.
Archibald received the Dr. Emile C. Nash monetary award, which is presented to the graduating senior who demonstrated outstanding ability and interest in Internal Medicine.
~~Adz:Right~~She is the last of five children of Mr. and Mrs. William Archibald of Taylor’s Range, Basseterre, who were both present at the momentous occasion. Also present were her elder siblings, aunts, uncles and numerous other family members and well wishers.
The young scholar spent her first formative school year at the George Moody Stuart School but was soon
transferred to her church-run private primary school - the Maurice Hillier Memorial School - under Headmistress Veronica Phillip.
At that school, Archibald excelled with distinction entering the then Basseterre Junior High School at age 10. She went on to Basseterre Senior High and later to the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College gaining grades that earned her credits upon entering Howard University in Washington, DC.
She attributes much of her success to her early education and is forever indebted to herprofessors, who went above and beyond teaching not just syllabi but instilled the importance of self-discipline and encouraged her to grow and develop intellectually and socially.
Above all, her strength, her motivation and her passion for learning come from her family, standing by her every step of the journey.
Zelia Yanique Archibald’s hope is that her experiences would only be a testimony that no one can define one’s destiny but one’s self. She believes that “our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; but that we are powerful beyond measure,” (Nelson Mandela), “and that, in fact, continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential,” (Winston Churchill).
Her parents are humbled by her awesome simplicity through the years and pray God’s continued guidance and protection on her as she commences her medical residency in New York.
