Many people in society encounter challenges at various points in their lives, and addressing such problems can be overwhelming for some. Primary school teacher Cindy Singh believes that one can express his/her life via the pursuit of academics.
Singh, who teaches at a primary school on the East Coast of Demerara, told Guyana Times recently that, in the past, she struggled to keep peace of mind, but she later recognized tha
Cindy Singh read for a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Bedfordshire in 2020. She graduated two years later
t her academic feats were key to overcoming her challenges, including mental health issues.
“My escape was always writing my feelings in my notebook/phone, listening to music, reading positive quotes, as well as doing outdoor activities. It was a way of getting my feelings appreciated and being accepted,” she stated.
Academic journey
Singh was born in Suriname; however, she was a toddler when her family moved back to Guyana. She attended the Swami Purnananda Primary School, at which she now teaches; and since those early days of schooling, she said, she faced challenges in having peace of mind.
She completed secondary schooling at the Bygeval Secondary School, and later she studied at the University of Guyana.
“When I finished secondary school, I was a salesgirl and a manager at two different private companies,” she said. However, she wanted to pursue her academic goals, so she enrolled in the Cyril Potter College of Education in 2010, and was among the first group of teachers to read for the associate degree programme.
Singh posing for the camera during the Miss India Guyana 2023 pageant
She later pursued a bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Guyana. In 2020, Singh read for a master’s degree at Bedfordshire University, and two years later, she completed the programme. Currently, Singh is pursuing a Degree in Tourism Studies.
Against this backdrop of educational goals, Singh said, she believes her academic journey is her way of expressing her life. “It is said you shoot for the moon, and you missed, you may land among the stars; with academics, there is no limit,” she said.
Singh noted that, like many women, she encountered daily issues, both at work and in her personal life. As such, she decided to seek a resolution. “I recognize that it is important to discover and know your own worth,” she said. “Though I do not have a limit, I know that, where I am heading, I will have a more comfortable life that I can appreciate,” she added.
Beyond the classroom
These days, Singh has taken up multiple roles to complement her education post. She is a Literacy Coordinator attached to the Ministry of Education’s Department of Education in Region Four. In addition, she works for the EduFM radio project as a scriptwriter, it entails writing lesson plans for the radio programme.
“You can manage anything, as long as you put your mind towards it,” she said as regards dividing her time between work and the extra work-related activities, “You do have to be disciplined, and you have to organize yourself,” she added.
She said she grabbed the opportunities which came her way in recent years, and as time progressed, she learned how to manage her time. Singh said that as time progressed, she decided to pursue activities that she always feared, and those included hiking and zip-lining.
Earlier this year, Singh participated in the Ms. India Guyana pageant, and she noted that it was an experience that she thoroughly enjoyed. She copped the first runner-up position following the event.
“Pageantry was one way of me expressing myself through my platform, Mental Health and Literacy. Because I struggled with both of them in my childhood, I wanted the world to know that if I could overcome it, then anybody can.”
Singh posing during a light moment
Singh said it was the first time she had taken part in a pageant, but she reiterated that it was one of those experiences she wanted to accomplish. As for the outcome of the pageant, she said she accepted the result.
“Despite you not having a crown, don’t let that trample on you; because, remember, you represent yourself, and you are a role model to those who look up to you,” she added. Singh said her intention was never really to win the crown, but rather to exercise her platform.
The young teacher is a member of the Victoria Community Center Group, also attached to the Youth and Women Empowerment Group. She is a volunteer at STEM Guyana, and a volunteer for Domestic Violence, a post which she holds under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. She is also a Mental Health Counsellor.
The young teacher noted that whatever circumstances or role she plays, she would still occupy the multiple roles she currently has. “One has to learn to manage time. Once you can master that, you can be part of anything,” she added.
As regards the future, Singh has said she sees herself as being “well established and “well accomplished” within the next decade of her life. She said having a PhD is definitely on the cards. In addition, she has ambitious plans to establish a tourism-related business. One quote she stated is “Be Fearless, go after the life you truly desire, and be unstoppable.”
