On October 22, Sharessa Fraser proudly walked across the UWI Faculty of Law graduation stage to collect her diploma—an accomplishment she does not take lightly. Not because she didn’t work hard for it, but because it was the bittersweet culmination of a phase of her life she is not sure she would have made it through without the shoulders she was allowed to stand on.
“Everything I work towards going forward will be dedicated to not only those whom I love and have now, but those whom I have lost as well.”
Before she would say anything else to WE Life and Culture, the 22-year-old Hugh Wooding Law School student insisted she must acknowledge the contributions made by her mother and sister, Sharmilla Christopher and Clisha Fraser-Mohammed, and her uncle and aunt Manoj and Janice Christopher to her completion of her law degree.
“I could never repay them. Imagine having an aunt and uncle who actually helped finance my education and have dedicated their every day to working hard to make sure that I could finish the LLB, and I don’t have to worry how Hugh Wooding fees will be paid for; because it comes at a great cost if you don’t have a scholarship or a bursary.”
And her countenance fell as she recalled the support given by one of her dearest friends and Hugh Wooding student, Mohammad Musajee, who died in a vehicular accident approximately two months ago.
“We were really close and he was so helpful and kind, especially in the last year of my LLB. If it hadn’t been for him, it would have been a real struggle.”
Fraser said there was never a debate on a career choice, as for as long as she can recall, she has always gravitated toward law.
“It has always been there. I never had this moment of epiphany where I woke up and I was like, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do.’ But I literally have a primary school plaque saying ‘I want to be a lawyer’ that we had made on career day.”
Fraser did a full business certificate at CSEC level, but she said Social Studies, history and Literature were her favourite subjects. In sixth form, she studied management of business, tourism, and sociology.
“And I have always had a love for documentaries and real crime stories. But then living in Trinidad and Tobago, it’s hard to ignore the news; it’s hard to ignore our need for justice. People would say that social media has the tendency to drown you with bad news, but I think it’s important to read, to listen, to be aware, in order to see what changes you can make.”
She described her time on the UWI, St Augustine campus as that of a typical university student, who worked hard and played just as hard.
“Since I was small, and my family could attest to this, I am a firm believer in making time for enjoyment. I believe in discipline more than motivation, but I also did do whatever UWI students do all the time – I studied, I limed, I made friends, and there were a few times when I missed classes,” she chuckled.
But she had developed a system that worked for her. She made sure she was always familiar with the content, and gave herself enough time to study before the exams.
“I was never a fan of burning myself out. I knew that law was a lot, was heavy, but I never wanted it to consume me. It was always about finding balance. Once you find that balance, you would be fine.”
In order to beat the traffic, she explained, back then her days started very early, because she would have to drive from her Sangre Grande home to campus.
“I think from 2023 to 2026, traffic has increased a lot. I probably need to find a study on it to prove it, but I know the traffic back then is not the traffic we have now.”
She said in as much as she enjoys driving, out of necessity, she has had to temporarily take up residence closer to Hugh Wooding.
“When I was doing my LLB, the hours were more flexible. Now, I have mandatory attendance, I have stricter hours, and I cannot drain myself by driving. The commute is a lot because if the traffic.”
Fraser admitted that when she started classes at Hugh Wooding in September, she felt a great deal of anxiety because she knew this part of her legal journey would require much more of her.
“If the LLB was heavy, I knew Hugh Wooding was going to be ten times heavier. It took a lot of mental preparation and I’m still figuring it out as the days go by, especially knowing that these next two years are key years in my legal education.”
As she did with her LLB, she is trying to find a balance that will make sure her health is prioritised, always.
“It’s October, assignments are now starting to drop, days are longer and it’s a very strict schedule. I really think mentally preparing myself and just discipline will go a long way. I always say ‘discipline over motivation’ every single day; knowing what you have to do and doing it.”
Fraser said that, at the end of it all, her plan is to practice criminal law, but if given the opportunity, she wouldn’t mind giving corporate law a try. She advises students who are just beginning their university journey, no matter the faculty, to work hard towards their dream, but to also understand that there is a lot more to life.
“Take time for enjoyment, because life sometimes comes with its share of sorrow. Trust me, I know.”
