Tiana Larmond Soaring from single-parent home to UTech’s President’s Honour Roll

For Tiana Larmond, the ‘code’ has always been to defy the odds and strive for success.

The BSc. Computing First Class Honours University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica graduate consistently executed this plan over the last four years by persevering through financial hardships she experienced while growing up in a single-parent household and by pushing past burnout and anxiety to complete a gruelling final year self-learning module.

Now she stands proudly as a member of UTech’s President’s Honour Roll, graduating on November 15, 2024 with an impressive GPA of 3.99. She was also the Valedictorian nominee for the Faculty of Engineering and Computing.

Certain of her passion for computer related disciplines, Larmond started to pursue a BSc. in Computer Science. However, after engaging with database design and web programming in her second year, she discovered a deeper interest in Information Technology, which led to her ultimately undertaking the BSc. in Computing with a major in Information Technology and a minor in Enterprise Systems.

“Once I began second year and did database design and web programming, I knew these were the areas in which I wanted to specialise. Those two modules were the first time in my degree that I was coding and truly enjoyed it to the point where I would do it in my free time. I instantly switched my major and I have never regretted it,” Larmond shared.

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‘MY MOTHER IS MY BIGGEST MOTIVATION’

With no regrets and undeterred by numerous challenges, Tiana Larmond noted that she was not only on a journey to achieve academic success, but also to make her mother proud.

“My mother is my biggest motivation. No one truly believes in me like she does, and I strive to make her proud in all I do. Coming from a single parent household, my mother worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to fund my studies to ensure that I could place my full focus on classes,” Larmond stated.

But despite her mother’s the sacrifices, financial constraints remained an issue for some time.

“My first year of university, I did less modules than stipulated in the module guide due to how high the tuition cost was to do all of them at once. Thankfully, that would be the last time I’d have to do that, as being able to focus solely on my studies allowed me to excel, and in recognition of my excellence, I attained grants and scholarships that majorly helped to pay a large portion of my school fees,” she shared.

The first class honours graduate was indeed ‘on a roll’, racking up special academic achievement awards – from a National Commercial Bank Foundation Grant to a Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission Tertiary Education Grant for academic year 2021/2022 and again for the following year.

For the 2023/2024 academic year, she was also awarded the GraceKennedy Foundation Final Year Scholarship and for a third time, the National Commercial Bank Foundation Grant to complete her degree without financial worries. These generous awards eased her financial worries and made her academic journey more manageable.

Tiana treasures these interventions to this day.

“Academic validation is a big factor; to be recognised for your efforts and excellence is a euphoric feeling,” she said.

ANXIETY AND BURNOUT WORRIES

But beyond the worries of financial difficulties, Larmond was not anticipating challenges of anxiety or burnout.

“Another challenge I faced was in the second semester of my fourth year. My final semester turned into one of anxiety,” she recounted, explaining that there were issues submitting her independent study application which she described as “a draining major project.”

These circumstances created a real possibility that she would not graduate within the prescribed timeframe.

“Being faced with the possibility of not graduating in the prescribed timeframe…I experienced major burnout. I became very demotivated,” she recalled.

Her lack of motivation led her to “only strive to achieve the bare minimum.”

In those moments as Tiana’s will to fight waned, the greater fear of disappointing her mother reignited her determination.

She found the strength to keep going by reflecting on all the sacrifices her mother had made for her.

“Truly, in the end it was my mother who motivated me (though she doesn’t know it). I know she was always proud to see my grades at the end of each semester and the thought of disappointing her was enough to push and to pursue my final module in the summer,” she said.

Tiana’s unwavering drive enabled her to also emerge as one of UTech’s high achievers, now applying her skills in industry as an Information Technology Audit Associate at KPMG – one of the world’s ‘Big Four’ professional service companies.

But as an overachiever, Larmond has even greater aspirations. Her short-term goal includes “pursuing certifications to become more marketable and staying abreast of the emerging technologies in my field. These certifications will not only keep me marketable but also prepare me for potential leadership roles in the tech industry. I love to see the code come to life right before my eyes, especially when building websites. I still try to practice my coding skills in my spare time.”

HOLISTIC APPROACH

Reflecting on her student experience as a member of the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) Committee, Tiana encourages other students to take a holistic approach to their university experience and development.

“Read for your degree!” she urged fellow students.

She added, “Reading over notes and additional information on the topic can not only pique your interest in a specific subject matter but also lessen anxiety when preparing for assessments later.”

She went on to encourage students to, “find time to socialise with your fellow students. UTech has many clubs. Being on the SCIT Committee introduced me to aspects of campus life that would have passed me by had I focused only on academics. These experiences taught me teamwork, event planning, and the importance of balance – skills that have been invaluable in my career.”

Now well poised to make significant contributions in her field, Tiana Larmond is thankful for the role that her lecturers played in propelling her to achieve success. She noted that UTech’s multifaceted approach to tertiary education has helped her to develop valuable technical skills and soft skills which she finds useful as a young professional.

“UTech places a strong emphasis on practical skills and career readiness. The university also offers career counselling and job placement services to help students transition into the workforce,” she said.

This, she asserted, “sets UTech apart from other institutions.”