Pursue careers in STEM and other non-traditional fields -First Lady tells students of Beterverwagting Secondary School

Georgetown, Guyana – (June 13, 2018) First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, today, urged students of the Beterverwagting Secondary School to think about where they aspire to be in the near future and to start working optimistically, towards the kind of future that that they envision for themselves and the country as a whole. She made these remarks, yesterday, at a Career Talk hosted by B and J Civil Works as part of its 25^th anniversary celebrations. The event was held at the Beterverwagting Secondary School, where the company also distributed a quantity of scientific calculators to students.

The First Lady encouraged the students to consider pursuing non-traditional career paths, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. “The world is making it much easier for women to advance in any stream that they want to and where their desires might lead them…This is the age of technology and you are living in what is called the fourth industrial revolution and, therefore, you are required to have knowledge in STEM… I want to encourage you, boys and girls, to get interested in STEM because that is where the job will be,” she said.

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger distributing gifts to students of the Beterverwagting Secondary School.

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and staff of B & J Civil Works.

Fourth Form students of the Beterverwagting Secondary School at the B & J Civil Works Career Talk.

First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger delivering remarks to students of the Beterverwagting Secondary School at the B & J Civil Works Career talk .

Mrs. Beverly Tapp, Managing Director of B & J Civil Works Speaking to students of the Beterverwagting Secondary School.

Mrs. Granger also took the opportunity to reassure the students that while the support of family and friends is essential, they need to understand that they themselves are personally responsible for their futures. “You have to know what you want; you are the ones who will ultimately decide on your future… You have to know where you come from and where you want to go… you are your future and the bonds you form in school and your work environment are the ones that will help you, but at the same time you have to keep learning and learning,” she said.

She thanked B and J Civil Works for honouring their corporate social responsibility by giving back to the students of the school and noted that the donation highlights the importance of education and how it can transform students’ lives, both socially and financially.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Managing Director of B and J Civil Works, Mrs. Beverly Tapp, who reminded the students that their choices are limitless. There was an interactive session, during which students participated in trivia on Guyana’s history and geography.