| By Kiana WilburgFrom being described as the secluded nerd in high school to “bombshell beauty queen…and still nerd,” Tamika Affia Henry has made it implicitly clear that she is determined to make a difference in the lives of others.Tamika at workSome of us, if not all, recognize this slimly built woman as being the articulate delegate that won Miss Guyana Universe 2010 or from the regular Digicel advertisements. But what is kept under cover,Arizona Diamondbacks Taijuan Walker Jersey, for very important reasons, is that this Guyana scholar is our country’s youngest and only analyst who specialises in Forensic studies.Henry, who works along with local law enforcement officers, has three sisters and five brothers.The Tucville-born damsel attended Tucville Primary school and was transferred to Stella Maris Primary School because her mother believed that she was not being challenged enough.In 1999, she attended Queen’s College and wrote the Caribbean Secondary School Examinations in 2004. She was to emerge as the top student of that year. “I wrote eleven subjects then and with these kids writing so many subjects now, my eleven sounds so…regular,” said Henry.“My school life was very difficult, though, because I was very asthmatic. I remember being very ill. It was a very painful period of my life. I would get horrible migraines and nosebleeds. Sometimes I would fall unconscious and wake up in a hospital, hours later. But thankfully I grew out of it, thanks to a lot of prayers and medication,” Henry saidShe moved on to sixth form at Queen’s College where she wrote her General Certificate Examination (GCE) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and emerged as the top student for both exams.The 26-year-old said, “I took a year off to work. I did not want to attend the University of Guyana for they were not doing anything that I wanted to do. However, I applied to different colleges abroad. As I awaited a response,Drew Stubbs Jersey, I applied for my first job with the Human Rights Association. I had other jobs during that period. I guess I bounced around a bit but all this was in an effort to save money for school.”Of all studies, why forensics? “Since I was a child, I was always determined to know who broke what in our home. I knew I liked solving mysteries but I never knew the name for such a study or career. I was on the internet on day and I found the name of the career and right there and then I realized that forensic studies was what I wanted to pursue.”Moreover, Henry describes forensics to be a “mind blowing” field of study. “It is thrilling to see that you can start with a small fragment of something and literally work backward and create an entire story.”In 2007, she left for school again. This time she was heading to the University of Miami and though it was not her first choice, she said,Martin Maldonado Jersey, “I have no regrets.”Tamika Henry in biology class at Queens College.“I graduated from the University of Miami in 2010 which is earlier than I should have but I did extra courses and also had my A’ levels transferred to University credits. I basically just wanted to get started with my work.”Today, Henry has a Bachelors Degree in Health Science, with a major in Forensics and a minor in Chemistry and Criminology.The Guyana scholar was also an Honour student at the University where she also completed a course in Public Management.The television host described her return to Guyana in May 2010, as bitter-sweet. “I was sad because I know I was getting accustomed to a certain lifestyle and didn’t want to leave. I met some of the most amazing people as well. But,Tyler Clippard Jersey, I was happy to return because I would be able to meet with my friends and family whom I have missed so much.”Life, however, took quite a turn when Henry’s sister encouraged her to enter the Miss Guyana pageant. “A big part of my entering the pageant was due to my sister,Jon Niese Jersey, Keisha, who believed that I had the all the ingredients of a perfect queen. After I applied, it became my personal goal.The pageant was certainly an eye opening experience as it unlocked a different side of me which I am still learning about.”Was Henry a different person before the pageant? Definitely! “I mean if you saw me before; High heel shoes? Never. Make up? Never, Eyebrows done? Never. None of that stuff. The pageant made me more girly. It made me care a lot more about myself physically and it has made me a lot more outgoing,’ explained the once “semi-introvert.”But apart from the glitz and glam of pageantry,Cincinnati Reds Drew Storen Jersey, the queen noted that it was her best and worst kind of “wake-up-call.”“While winning was great,Michael Saunders Jersey, when you examine the way the other countries prepared their girls, it makes you realize that we really don’t value our own. We don’t invest in them. And that was difficult for me to accept. ““There is no prepared portfolio after you win the Miss Guyana pageant. Honestly, you win the pageant, you compete internationally and when you come back that is it. They cut you loose. So whatever you do is entirely of your own initiative. So when a queen disappears after the international appearance, it is not entirely her fault. There isn’t a programme prepared for her.”Currently, Henry has started a teaching class, which is basically a community project called the, “IQ Lessons,Gordon Beckham Jersey,” founded by a childhood friend, Denisha Victor, and herself.She said that while this may be a challenging task at times,Baltimore Orioles Michael Bourn Jersey, the fact that you are making an irreversible difference in the lives of others is simply “priceless.” |
