 | | Ms. Nashara Webster |
To those who know Shara, as she is fondly called, this was no surprise, since she entered Trent at the top of her game, not only as our Island Scholar, but securing the Trent International Program Global Citizenship Scholarship. The latter is particularly notable, since she was one of only two recipients, out of hundreds of international applicants who applied that year.
Despite her youth, Nashara demonstrated, prior to her years in Trent, a deep commitment to her community, inadvertently becoming an admirable role model for the young women with whom she interacted as Leader of the 6th Anguilla Girl Guide Unit in Island Harbour, and teacher of guitar for the Sting Ray Programme in The Valley.
Being far away from home could not deter this committed citizen. Among the many community activities on which she made indelible marks were: Radio Host of ‘The International Hour’ on Trent Radio; Reviewer on JUST (Canada’s First Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Studies); Trent Ambassador; International Students Recruitment Assistant (2009 – 2011), Trent Penpal and Co-Chair of Trent World Day 2010.
When asked what the reason for her choice of university was, Nashara said: “Trent was exactly what I wanted from my university experience in terms of its co-curricular balance and genuine international focus”. She said she could now “sell Trent to the deaf, dumb and blind.” Because of this, she was offered a job as Trent’s Cross-Caribbean Recruitment Officer at Convocation. There can be no doubt that Trent is aware of how much they have benefited from her choice.
Despite her self-imposed rigorous extra-curricular schedule, Nashara graduated with a 3.7 GPA and her arms full of distinctions. Her mother, aunt and sisters proudly watched as she was awarded both the Dean’s Honour and President’s Honour, the combination of which is the highest possible honour, and the Trent International Program David Morrison Award which is awarded to only one graduating International student per year.
Heartfelt gratitude and thanks are given to all those relatives and friends who have untiringly encouraged and supported her dreams over the years, including the Past Chief Minister, Mr. Osbourne Fleming, whose advice influenced her choice of Economics as her major.
The next step for Nashara will be a Masters of Arts degree in Economics at York University in Toronto, having turned down offers from the prestigious John Hopkins University, SAIS Bologna, Italy.
When asked what advice she would give to young Anguillians who are ‘considering’ further education she said, “Not to be cliché, but education takes you places. It took me places I probably would not have gone; allowed me to meet persons I never would have met; do things I never would have done and become someone I never would have become.”
“Education,” she said, “is like a cheat code; with it, you don’t have to be somebody to become somebody.”
Nashara, all of us are so proud of you. May God continue to bless you as you work at developing all the potential with which He has gifted you, knowing that every honour you earn is an also an honour for your beloved Anguilla. |
