Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 28, 2021 News, Special Person
By Malisa Player-Harry
Kaieteur News – As the world continues to revolve, women are increasingly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Our women folk have joined arms and laid solid foundations enabling them to fill just about any capacity in a society that was once glorified as “a man’s world.”
In so doing, women have strived to become less dependent on others and even more independent, dabbling in every sector known to man. Women have ascended to every lead position and in numbers, they own multi-million dollar businesses. They have been known to make groundbreaking decisions in many sectors, while effortlessly playing the role of mother and wife, if they choose to.
Today, we shine our ‘Special Person’ spotlight on one such woman. She is Berbice’s very own female Meteorologist, Tanya Katrina Niamatali.
She has taken the lead in her chosen field and has been actively involved since completing her studies in Meteorology.
When we want to know what weather pattern to expect, we rely on the Meteorologist to effectively inform us, and since her return to Berbice, she has been working around the clock to educate and inform the populace of Region Six.
Tanya was born on the June 25, 1995 to parents Mario Niamatali, civil and building works contractor, and Vivika Niamatali, who assists in managing the family’s business. She also has an older sister, Maria, who resides in Long Island with her family.
Tanya grew up on Strand Road, New Amsterdam, and attended the Little Bethlehem Play School “for about a day” and then moved on to the St. Mary’s Nursery School. “I cannot remember how many days I went there (play school); apparently I was not fond of school,” said a smiling Tanya. She does, however, recall attending the St. Aloysius Primary School, where the foundation of her future achievements began.
According to her, during her primary school days, she completed her homework before leaving class, just so she could enjoy taking part in Karate classes. It was during those combative classes, she disclosed, “I got most of my seriousness from. I also took piano classes and this started since I was about five years old, and then lawn tennis with my father, sister and uncles,” she related.
But Karate classes, she added, proved to be one of the many things she excelled at quickly since she managed to earn three brown belts. However, when it was time to start high school she lost her opportunity to achieve her black belt.
“As for piano classes, I did two practical exams and, I think seven theory exams, all of which I excelled in. However, I cannot remember to play a thing but I’m sure if I sat behind a piano I’d be able to come up with something melodious,” the jovial Tanya quipped.
She was able to gain a place at President’s College (PC) after primary school and that proved to be a massive shift in her life since she was accustomed to the way of life in New Amsterdam, Berbice. She was required to stay in a dorm at President’s College.
It was while there too she took a liking to things technology and even started to relish the idea of becoming an engineer. She also continued to play lawn tennis as part of her extra-curricular activities at the school.
OPPORTUNITY
Upon graduating from high school, Tanya enrolled at the University of Guyana to study Civil Engineering, which she did for one semester before switching to Geology.
“Unfortunately, due to some circumstances I decided to quit studying in 2013. I was home helping my parents however I could,” she recalled. But then opportunity came knocking.
During her time at home helping with the family business, Tanya said she saw an advertisement in the local newspapers for scholarships to study in Russia and, after weighing her options, she made the life-changing decision to study Hydrometeorology (a branch of meteorology and hydrology that studies the transfer of water and energy between the land surface and the lower atmosphere).
“I applied and after months of waiting, I was awarded a scholarship from the Government of Guyana. In November of 2014, I left Guyana to go and study in a country that’s seven hours ahead of us and one that speaks a totally different language,” she said. For her, leaving Guyana was not as hard as she thought it would be but it became tough the moment she landed in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Her thoughts were centred on the fact that she would have to spend five years studying in the foreign country she knew nothing about before returning home. It was a tough pill to swallow for some time, but Tanya was determined to make the best of her opportunity. She explained that during her first year in Russia, learning the language “was pretty intense but cool.” After the first year of learning the language, the degree programme commenced and this, she said, was “interesting and at times challenging.”
Tanya recalled that studying in Russia allowed her to experience not only the Russian culture and lifestyle, but other things as well. She said she was afforded the opportunity to explore Mozambique, Zambia, Yemen and even more.
“There were many days in Russia, I felt like quitting because I missed home but I pushed through because I wanted to be the first Niamatali that studied in Russia and the first in my family (on both mom and dad’s side) to be a meteorologist,” she added.
SUCCESS
In 2019, Tanya graduated with a degree from the Russian State Hydrometeorological University and for her “it was a bittersweet moment whereby I had to understand I’ll be leaving some friends that I now consider family and go into that working world.” Since her return to Guyana, she has been working in the fields and utilizing her skills to the best of her abilities.
While many may consider the job she does as not that important, she has endeavoured to make a difference in her line of work and as a female in an ever-evolving world.
A meteorologist, she explained, usually forecasts the weather, gives analyses of what would have occurred and would usually do research to produce various products associated with weather.
“My typical working day includes communicating with the specialist meteorologist, research, making spot checks on certain meteorological stations, among other tasks. However, one of my main tasks at the moment is to ensure that all farmers and stakeholders are aware of possible weather conditions within the region.”
“And given the importance of my job and the fact that I am obligated to serve the nation,” Tanya said, “I do not think I would ever leave Guyana permanently, but I will continue to travel whenever I can.”
Though her job may entail a lot on a daily basis, the 26-year-old said that finding time between family and work is “super easy since I still live with my parents and I cherish every moment that I’m around them, as well as my mama’s great cooking.”
She believes that while she has garnered immense success thus far, she is confident that she has not reached her peak, as yet. She credits her already achieved success to her entire family circle, and revealed that she wants to serve as a beaming light of positivity to their lives.
Her advice to others aiming for success is, “to work towards success in whatever way you think suits you but remember to stay humble and let patience be your best friend.”
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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