In the coming school year of 2024/2025, Christine Halley will enter her fourth year at the University of Guyana in order to complete her Bachelors of Applied Science in Petroleum Engineering. She is dedicated to her academic excellence and has thus been rewarded for this by achieving the titles ‘Best Graduating Student in the Associates of Science in Petroleum Engineering’ and ‘Best Overall Graduating Student at the Associate’s Degree Level at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, among others, in the year 2023. She was able to achieve this due to being awarded a scholarship through the Women and Gender Equality Commission, thus allowing her an opportunity to enter into the energy industry, a once male dominated field. Beyond academics, she is a Leader in Training with the Guyana Girl Guides Association and acts as a Treasurer for the University of Guyana Society of Petroleum Engineers Student Chapter. During her tenure, the board members and herself were able to create and register the first ever club of its kind at the University and host several successful activities on a monthly basis, including Mentorship Programs for University students and Site Visits to Local Oil Companies. In her free time, Christine enjoys reading and experimenting with different recipes. She also hopes to start her own kitchen garden and is currently honing her swimming skills as she believes it is an important ability to have. She also believes volunteerism is important as it helps to give back to the community and aids in personal growth and development. As such, she has volunteered with different organizations like STEM Guyana and Guyana Animation Network (GAN). 

As a scholarship recipient under the Women and Gender Equality Commission, she was tasked to complete two courses under the Institute of Gender Studies, namely, Introduction to Gender and Sexuality (IGS 4201) and Gender and Development (WST 4100). In the Introduction to Gender and Sexuality, she was able to explore the similarities and differences between sex and gender and gain an understanding that Gender is a social construct while sex relates to a person’s physical biology. She explored different terminologies and looked at the intersectionality between different factors of a person’s identity like race, class, poverty, gender and more. She also delved into Caribbean feminism and its history along with the construction of masculinity and its evolution; whereas in Gender and Development she was able gain an appreciation of gender and feminist theories and the effect and implications of globalization on gender. She also looked at the different family types and sharing of work in the household. Topics like men and development, poverty and health and more were also explored. Through 13 interactive weeks of classes for each course she was able to participate in class debates, discussions and presentations that allowed her to become aware of gender policies and programs. She was able to also evaluate social structures and acquire insight into the division of power as it relates to gender inequality and access to employment, healthcare, education and more. She believes it is important for more persons to enroll in similar, if not the same courses as it enhances social awareness of the diverse experiences and challenges an individual can feel and foster empathy and understanding to different persons of various gender identities and expressions. A much-needed change in the Caribbean! Furthermore, these courses encourage critical thinking and contribute to personal growth and development. This knowledge can better prepare and equip an individual to combat social injustices like gender-based violence and discrimination.