“Never bottle up your feelings. Talk it out when the pressure begins to mount.”
That is the advice from star student of Parvati Girls’ Hindu College, Kaitlyn Sahatoo, who obtained five Grade Ones in her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Sahatoo offered advice to students walking the path she once did.
Knowing fully the weight of examination anxiety, Sahatoo said Unit 1 of CAPE was smooth sailing, but by Unit 2, the stakes felt higher.
“I felt a bit more pressured… I had a little bit of a problem with my anxiety,” she recalled. She said what kept her going was the support around her — her mother’s constant encouragement, her teachers’ guidance, and her faith.
“Prayer did a lot, and my faith did a lot. It played a very big role for me in overcoming whatever I was going through at that time. And it did pay off,” she said, smiling.
Sahatoo said her journey to success began long before the exam halls. Each day, she left her home in Gasparillo to go to Parvati Girls. Yet, Sahatoo said, within the school walls, she found more than academics.
“I found sisterhood and a family,” she added.
Sahatoo said the friendships, mentorship, and sense of belonging gave her the resilience to balance studies with life. But like other scholars, she said there must be a balance.
“Do not let school be your reason to say no to family time,” she advised. “Even if it’s half an hour — watch your favourite show, talk to your mom and dad, play with your dog. Do something you love. It clears your mind and leaves you ready to go again.”
She said her consistency and balance saw her rise to positions of leadership, serving as both Senior Prefect and Head Girl.
Meanwhile, her principal, Dr Sharda Ramjattan, said since she entered Form One, she had always been a “standout student.”
“Kaithlyn demonstrated not just a passion for academics, and being an intelligent student. She was well-rounded and involved in so many holistic activities. She mentored others, she led with compassion, and she was exceptional.”
She said that nurturing spirit was no accident.
“Here we call it a family,” said Ramjattan. “Our motto is that we put the children first. A child must not come here disadvantaged in any way. We step up, we provide the resources, and we make sure they succeed.”
Now that the school is celebrating its 25th anniversary, Ramjattan said the 2025 results for CSEC and CAPE had surpassed all others.
She said it was in that environment of support and excellence that Sahatoo flourished. Today, she is a medical student at The University of the West Indies, pursuing her dream of becoming a forensic pathologist.
Meanwhile, her mother, Betsy Deonarine-Sahatoo, said her daughter was well-rounded and, despite having extensive studies, she always made time to talk with the family and help with household chores. She said her husband, Ken Sahatoo, and two other daughters, Shreya, who is in Lower Six, and Sanjhi, were supportive of each other. She said their family’s desire was always to be kind to others.
