By Suelika N. Buchanan
 |
|
New States Scholar Kyndra Monique Liburd
|
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Recently announced States Scholar for the 2007 Caribbean Examinations Council’s Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) has says that she is interested in Biology and would one day like to get into medicine.
“I would love to Major in biology as I plan to go away to University next year,” she said. “I’m not sure as yet of all of my options in the job field with regards to Biology but I have considered medicine.”
Kyndra “Monique” Liburd, the new States Scholar said that she received eight distinctions overall in Sixth Form. She received a grade two for Spanish Unit II and a grade three for Mathematics Unit II.
The eight ones were for Biology Unit I and II; Communication Studies, Caribbean Studies, French Unit I and II, Spanish Unit I and Maths Unit I. In the final year she received four ones a two a three.
She told SKNVibes.com that she was extremely happy when she had learned of her achievement.
“I am extremely happy,” she said. “Although, I’m not quite sure why people are saying it seems as though it hasn’t sunk in as yet but I guess I’m not used to reacting to such,” she said.
Preparations for exams were tough she says.
~~Adz:Right~~ “There were a lot of long hours and sleepless nights and a lot of reading and researching that I had to do,” she said. “But my teachers were always there for support and help and at all hours we were calling and visiting them. At times I felt overwhelmed because it was really a large amount of work in such a short period of time and you never know what to expect.”
However, Liburd knew how to careful balanced her time during college as she was apart of extra curricular activities such as playing the piano, being a member of the Literary and Debating Society as well as the Girls Guides.
Although she grew up in a single parent home with her mother, there was always lots of cousins and other family members around.
“My family is very close knit, so along with hanging out with cousins I’ve always had Aunts and Uncles to look out for me and for support,” she said. “I’m also very friendly and love to smile, laugh, listen to music and have fun.”
Liburd said that the advice she would give to future State Scholar hopefuls is to have a balanced life of school and play.
“Yes it’s a lot of work, so study hard but make time for yourselves and make sure you also have fun,” she said. “Set goals for yourself that you want to achieve and work towards those goals. Hold high standards for yourself and surround yourself with persons who believe and want the best for you. Be competitive but not boastful or overconfident and selfish.”
Liburd said that she is presently a teacher.
“Well I needed a break from studying for a while even though it seems in a way I’m still studying, but I really admire my teachers and my school years have been some of the best for me so it was hard for me to let go so soon,” she said. When it struck me that it was over in Nevis as regards to school and my education, I was extremely sad and I like the idea of helping people, so that’s why I got into this profession.”
State Scholar awardees are normally rewarded with Full Bright Scholarships.
Past States Scholars from 1997 to 2006 includes:
1997 Kareem Carr - Illinois State University - Physics
1998 - Teres Maloney - Pace University, NY - Finance
1999 - Michele Nisbett - Georgia State University - Accounting
2000 - Nicole Maloney - New York University - Biochemistry
2001 - Jihan Williams - UWI, - Law
2002 - Janine Williams - University of Western Ontario - Biochemistry
2003 - Aylah Bellile - UVI - Accounting
2004 - Derese James - Florida International University - Accounting
2005 - Rhenese Herbert - St. Leo University - Accounting
2006 - Shauntel Liburd - (Has not taken up the scholarship as yet)
