If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. ― John Quincy Adams
Today we celebrate an exceptional leader, a woman who has given 39 years of love, dedication and passion to the teaching profession and by extension Naparima Girls’ High School, our principal Mrs. Carolyn-Bally Gosine.
Mrs. Gosine started her journey as a teacher at NGHS in January 1982, but she has been associated with the school since 1971 when she entered as a Form 1 student, 49 years ago. Over the years, she has functioned as Vice Principal, Head of Department, Biology, Integrated Science, Geography and Needlework teacher, Form Mistress, House Mistress and Pianist at worship and other school functions – A true Renaissance woman. Mrs. Gosine also holds the distinct honour of being the first past student to direct the office of both Vice-Principal and Principal of Naparima Girls’ High School.
Moreover, Mrs. Gosine served under 4 Principals in her tenure at Naps and has witnessed the school celebrating its 75th anniversary with the launch of the Diamond Jubilee cookbook, its 90th with the 2nd edition, ‘The Multi-Cultural Cuisine of Trinidad &Tobago & The Caribbean’ and the grand 100th anniversary with ‘Celebrate Food’ in 2012.
Over the years, Mrs. Gosine has seen the landscape of the school change with the addition of new buildings and the renovation of others. As Principal for the last 8 years, Mrs. Gosine has built on the foundation of her forbearers ensuring that the school’s infrastructure is avant garde as exemplified from the early days, overseeing the construction of the skywalk, to her final days, with the refurbishment and re-dedication of the Sarah Morton Dormitory, now a National Heritage Site. The Sarah Morton Dormitory which was once used as a dormitory as well as classrooms and specialty rooms will now be used for both spiritual and secular uses. The well thought out refurbished Dormitory houses a Chapel, Student Services room, Heritage Room, Archive Room and a Meeting Room.
It is often said that “every beginning has an end, and every end is a new beginning.” As Mrs. Gosine closes this chapter in her life, we, the Staff, Students and the entire Naparima community salute her and thank her for her sterling contribution to Naparima Girls’ High School. We wish her God’s blessings in every future endeavour and that she is showered with love, laughter and sunshine as she embarks on the most wonderful journey yet – Retirement!
