Meet three young women - Lisa, Nicole and Lynda Tilluckdharry - sisters, physicians and graduates of Naparima Girls’ High School. They unanimously say, “It is not about what we have achieved but more about where we started.”
For them, the legacy of Naparima Girls’ High School (NGHS) has spanned three generations in their family. Stories of the days when their paternal grandmother, Lilias Mona Tilluckdharry, boarded at La Pique and spoke fondly of the friendships and liberties that were afforded to the young women, stoked their yearning to follow in her footsteps. The threads of the Presbyterian Church and the tradition of female educators, as exemplified by their aunts, also solidified their foundations “on the hill” and provided a backdrop for their spiritual and disciplined upbringing. Such is the legacy of NGHS.
Singing the uplifting words of the school hymn, “Youth Undaunted” at the inspirational morning assembly held under the shade of the tamarind tree, is part of their collective memory. Each can recall what it felt like to stand in front of the school body to lead the assembly during their individual year as a head girl. Imagine three sisters, each becoming a head girl and each having an opportunity to serve their school.
“Naps” has long been a body of girls from diverse backgrounds, multiple ethnicities, religions and cultural experiences, brought together based on academic achievement. It is here that they are encouraged, nurtured and supported by a faculty of genuinely invested teachers, who help to identify and develop individual talents and abilities. For these girls, their love of teaching and organisation, plus leadership, social and diplomatic skills were fostered at Naps. They also developed their passion for community and giving back. To fulfil this personal mission, they routinely gave of their time to free medical clinics, teaching and supporting church activities.
The discipline and expectations of NGHS provided the foundations for academic achievement in their medical careers. They are now specialist consultants in the fields of Pulmonology/Critical Care, Endocrinology and Rheumatology. Their spiritual grounding supported them through the challenges of living, studying and working overseas. The multicultural exposure allowed them to understand and easily embrace new experiences and bridge cultural gaps. The friendships that were started two decades ago continue to sustain and support the girls to this day. The accomplishments of the inspiring and dedicated women who have served and trained at NGHS continue to motivate these young women to strive for excellence, service and humility in all they do – not only as physicians, but also as wives, mothers and daughters.
