Guyanese law student Saeed Abdool Hamid who graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) with a Legal Education Certificate on Saturday last has copped several top awards for his outstanding performance.
Among these are the coveted Guyana Government Prize for the Best Performance by a Student from Guyana, but other awards include: The Book Specialist Prize (Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extra-curricular Activities, shared with George Charlemagne) and The Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh Prize for Best Performance in the Human Rights Law Clinic.
Saeed Abdool Hamid
Hamid also made the Principal’s Roll of Honour for achieving six or more ‘A’ grades from the 11 courses carried during the two years of study at the Law School.
He has since proceeded to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, United Kingdom (UK), to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law, which concludes in August 2018.
According to Hamid, winning these awards while serving as President of the Human Rights Committee, Public Relations Officer of the Student Representative Council, and a member of the Gavel Newsletter Editorial Team was no easy task.
“If there is anything I hope persons take from my experience is that the LEC programme is difficult; but with a passion for learning, the right mind-set and support system, you can excel. It is important to have a well-rounded experience and to never let an opportunity escape your grasp,” he advised.
In reflecting on his success, Hamid said, “It’s fair to say that resources at UG may not be the same as UWI or at other universities; but each year we emerge successful — whether it is at UG or wherever else we take our post-graduate education — because of the hard work instilled in us by the lecturers.”
He further stated, “While the programme at UG offers a good balance of courses, providing students with ample public speaking opportunities and theory, students ought to take public speaking opportunities more seriously, as it is a crucial part of the HWLS programme. UG provided me with a solid foundation to understand what it means to meet the demands of your teachers, and how to do so effectively.”
Hamid, a product of St Roses High School, believes in the mantra: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” However, while rigorous study schedules and limited distractions were major contributors to his success, he underscored the importance of having a balance between studies and leisure time.
Furthermore, he sought to recognise the impact his lecturers – both at UG and HWLS – have had on his success, as well as support from his family, friends and classmates.
He went onto to say, “My intention is to return home to Guyana and make a difference. They say lawyers are social agents of change, and I intend to take full control of that capacity, whether it is through litigation — at first the criminal justice system — or even the United Nations, I will be happy working wherever I can achieve that objective. And when the time comes, I will be equally happy to give back to the University by teaching the next generation.”
Hamid’s advice to current law students is: “As much as you may be tempted, do not take for granted the advice given to you by lecturers. They ask for you to prepare for each seminar or tutorial because they know what lies ahead of you in the future, and they want the best for you. Learning is about trial and error, and the more you make the effort, the easier it would be to excel.”
Meanwhile, his father, Shaheed Hamid, is pleased with his son’s performance. He said, “Saeed has made his family and The University of Guyana extremely proud of his remarkable achievement.”
