Discipline and distinction shape a UTech valedictorian

Raheem Lindo is no stranger to finishing first. Next month he will address his peers as one of three valedictorians at the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica’s 2025 graduation ceremony, having completed a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with first-class honours and a GPA of 3.84. Along the way, he also helped to raise funds for students in financial distress — an outcome shaped as much by hardship as by high marks.

Academic distinction has long marked Lindo’s path. His aptitude for accounting earned him a distinction in the Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) examinations, a performance he replicated at university through consistently outstanding grades. Yet success was never guaranteed. Early in his studies, funds set aside for tuition had to be diverted to meet an emergency, forcing him to rely on a student loan for his first year.

The prospect of financing the remaining years through debt sharpened his resolve. “Faith without works is dead, so I made sure to do my part. I worked hard and diligently, spending long nights studying, practising past papers, and giving my best in every assignment and assessment,” Lindo reflected. He responded with determination, and the effort paid off. Strong academic results later qualified him for scholarships, grants and bursaries that fully covered his tuition from his second to fourth year.

HELPING OTHERS

Rather than keeping the benefit to himself, Lindo sought to extend it to others. As president of UTech UCAM, a Christian student organisation, he helped to lead the Hosanna Fundraiser, which provided assistance to students facing financial hardship. For Lindo, enabling others to remain enrolled proved as rewarding as his own academic success.

University life, however, demanded careful negotiation. Deeply involved in church activities and student leadership, Lindo soon realised that balance would be as important as ambition. “I came to university to earn a degree, but I also had other responsibilities — I often struggled with the conflict and guilt of whether I was devoting too much time to one area while neglecting another,” he said. Clear goal-setting for each area helped him to manage competing priorities.

With his undergraduate chapter closing, Lindo is already looking ahead. He is gaining professional experience as an auditor while preparing to pursue the ACCA qualification, with the aim of becoming a chartered accountant. “I want to deepen my expertise in accounting to build on the foundation I received at UTech and position myself to take on more advanced roles,” he said. He credits UTech, Jamaica’s leadership with fostering a family-oriented campus environment that supported both his academic and personal development.

His advice to current and prospective students is pragmatic. Ambition, he argues, must be matched by discipline and sacrifice. “It just takes work, diligence, sacrifice and commitment to push yourself to achieve it,” he said, while encouraging students to surround themselves with responsible and supportive peers.