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PORTAL ACCESSES

Naphesha Glasgow-Williams

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Accounting (Special)

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Trinidad | Business Owner – YarYar Braids

Scholar Spotlight: How DATAS Bursary Fuelled a Fast-Track, Two-Year UWI Success Story

Every great journey begins with a vision, but transforming that vision into reality requires a sturdy foundation. As a student fresh out of sixth form, my eyes were set firmly on the future. I had a deep passion for numbers, corporate structure and financial management. My dream was clear: earn a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Accounting (Special) from The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, and build a meaningful career in accounting. However, ambition alone does not pay tuition, cover the extensive cost of textbooks, digital equipment, transit, or campus housing.

Coming out of sixth form, I was met with the harsh realities of adulthood. I had little to no personal income and only modest savings. Higher education felt like a distant, beautiful thought rather than an accessible reality. I simply had no visible path to financially cover the compounding bills that a degree demands. This is the story of how an unexpected global crisis, a hairdressing business, critical state resources, and a life-changing bursary turned an impossible dream into a two-year success story.

“Thank God for COVID-19”

When looking back at the timeline of my degree, I often find myself uttering a phrase that many might find unusual, “Thank God for COVID-19.” While the pandemic brought global uncertainty, disruption, and immense grief, it inadvertently unlocked the exact logistical window I needed to kick-start my academic journey without collapsing under immediate financial pressure. In a traditional academic year, my single biggest hurdle would have been the upfront cost of moving away from home, securing long-term accommodation near the UWI St. Augustine campus, and financing

daily travel. With my savings depleted, these boundary walls might have stopped my journey before it even began.

When the university shifted online, the immediate demands for rent and travel disappeared. I only had to worry about tuition and learning resources. That was when the first piece of my financial safety net fell into place: the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme. With GATE covering my tuition, I directed my savings toward textbooks and study materials. Staying anchored at home, logging into virtual lectures, and budgeting every cent, I successfully completed my early semesters.

My family had saved a little for my education, but it would not have covered even one semester’s full tuition under normal circumstances. I had a practical skill and knew how to use it: hairdressing, which I operate under the name YarYar Braids.

A Live Accounting Laboratory

Balancing a demanding B.Sc. Accounting (Special) with a hands-on service business required extreme discipline. I moved directly from intensive lectures into styling sessions for clients. Remarkably, YarYar Braids became more than pocket money – it became my first live accounting laboratory. Cash flow tracking, cost allocation, and other concepts from my UWI courses were immediately applied to my own enterprise. Managing every single moving part of a self-employed business fuelled my passion for financial management.

As the world adapted to the pandemic, the university announced a return to in-person classes. While I was academically thriving, this shift brought back my original financial nightmare. Right when the walls seemed to be closing in, an extraordinary opportunity emerged: I was invited to interview before the Training Awards Committee (TAC) of the Division of Education – Department of Advanced Training and Advisory Services (DATAS).

The interview was online. I brought my academic track record and a transparent account of my financial situation. The TAC recognised my drive and awarded me a vital academic bursary. This support came at the best possible time. The Bursary served as a cornerstone of my academic success – a financial safety net that erased the threat of insecurity.

Targeting the Real Pain Points

The bursary targeted exactly what GATE and my business could not cover alone: learning materials and accommodation. By absorbing the vast majority of overhead bills I would otherwise have handled alone, DATAS allowed me to remain safe, focused, and productive during an incredibly demanding academic period.

Even with a structured plan, acceleration is rarely without friction. The true test of my resilience came at the very beginning of my final semester. I thought I was prepared: textbooks bought, calculators calibrated, food budget secure, schedule set. Then I logged into my student portal and found an administrative financial hold on my account. Because of an oversight, a series of summer classes I had taken to accelerate my graduation had not been fully cleared by funding. I had no idea this balance was not covered by GATE.

Suddenly, I had less than a week before the semester began to source a substantial sum of money and clear the hold or risk missing most of my classes. In that moment of sheer panic, the true value of the DATAS framework shone through. Because of their efficient administrative system, funds from my latest bursary disbursement were processed and released immediately. I used it to clear the outstanding balance. The hold vanished, and I was allowed to register. That was when I truly realised the magnitude of what DATAS had done for me.

Two Years, One Global Pandemic

Backed by DATAS and sustained by unwavering faith, I did something that many deemed impossible: I completed the highly rigorous, intensive B.Sc. Accounting (Special) degree programme at UWI St. Augustine in just two accelerated years instead of three, in the middle of a global pandemic. A “Special” degree requires a higher concentration of advanced accounting, auditing, and taxation coursework. Doing it on a compressed timeline while navigating lockdowns, hybrid campus shifts, and running a business required an unyielding work ethic. Dissolving my financial limitations allowed me to pour 100% of my intellectual energy into my goals. I emerged not just as a graduate, but as a battle-tested professional equipped with academic training and entrepreneurial grit.

Support That Doesn’t End at Graduation

What sets DATAS apart from generic financial aid is that their investment in human capital does not terminate at graduation. Long after my final exams were graded and my degree formerly conferred, the department maintained active, meaningful contact with me. I was impressed by their exceptional follow-up support. They reached out to check on my professional progress, inquiring whether I had transitioned into the workforce and was practicing in the accounting field I had studied. At that time, I was indeed employing my skills. This timely, continuous support proved that DATAS is genuinely committed to the long-term career journeys of its recipients, fostering a lifelong sense of accountability.

My experience taught me that structural limitations are meant to be dissolved, not accepted. I am forever invested in accounting, and my career trajectory is firmly anchored in this passion.

Advice to the Next Generation

To any student, entrepreneur, or aspiring professional standing where I once stood – facing a mountain of ambition with an empty bank account – I say: never leave your goals floating as abstract wishes. Write down your professional blueprint. Make it simple, clear and actionable. Break monumental dreams into immediate, realistic milestones. Once your plan is on paper, step out with confidence and let God order your steps.

Roadblocks are inevitable on an accelerated path. Whether it is a global pandemic or a sudden financial hold on your school account days before a semester begins, stay optimistic. When you refuse to let panic dictate your choices, creative solutions will arise. Do not let pride or lack of information isolate you. There are deep pools of institutional assistance available if you are willing to look. You are your own greatest asset, and you are worth every penny and hour of investment you pour into your mind. But true success also requires holistic management: take intentional care of your physical and mental health. Academic and entrepreneurial grinds require immense energy, and your health is an irreplaceable currency you will need far more than you think.

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