Raised by a village - Valedictorian Rihanna Drussard honours the women who helped shape her

When Rihanna Drussard stood before her peers as valedictorian of Red Stripe's Brewing Success Summer Internship Programme recently, she offered a heartfelt reminder that nobody achieves greatness alone.

"I often say I was raised by a village. For me, those words aren't a cliche in my life; they describe exactly how I was raised," she said.

"My grandmother and great-grandmother were the anchors of my childhood. Their strength, discipline, and sacrifices shaped who I am, and I call myself a 'village baby' because I carry their lessons wherever I go."

Drussard's story, though rooted in familiar scenes of hard work and family sacrifice, stood out for the way she transformed those experiences into lessons in leadership. Her grandmothers led her by steady, unwavering example.

"Their kind of parenting was not about hovering or cushioning every blow. It was steady, rooted, and full of quiet instruction. Looks that said 'you know better'; routines that taught discipline; reminders that nothing worth having comes easy," said Drussard.

The Brewing Success programme offers tertiary students hands-on experience in their fields of study, while building professional and soft skills through projects, workshops, and community initiatives.

Drussard paid tribute to the lineage of women who moulded her - her great-grandmother, who taught that education was a form of dignity, and her grandmother, who modelled resilience through daily persistence: "Wake up, show up, and never let setbacks define you."

Books and introspection filled the spaces between those life lessons. She described herself as someone who values reflection over noise, preferring to think deeply before she speaks.

"Books became my world. They gave me space to imagine, to observe, to reflect. While others rushed to speak, I was more comfortable listening, writing things down, and thinking deeply before I shared."

That quiet habit, she explained, did not make her timid -- it made her deliberate. Her power lies not in how loudly she speaks, but in how thoughtfully she contributes.

"When I stepped into Red Stripe's internship programme, I quickly realised how much those lessons mattered. The pace was fast, the projects demanding, and collaboration wasn't optional. But instead of being intimidated, I leaned on what my 'village' had given me: resilience, discipline, and the confidence that careful thought leads to meaningful contribution."

"Looking back, my story isn't one of overcoming silence. It's about understanding that there is strength in reflection, and that the words you choose, whether written or spoken, can carry real weight," she added.

She ended her address with a message that resonated deeply.

"Being a village baby means you never stand alone. I carry that truth with me, in the quiet corners of my childhood, in the collaborative spaces of my career, and in the way I imagine my future," she said.

"My path is marked by legacy and resilience, and by a responsibility to honour the sacrifices that cleared the way for me through purposeful and unapologetic contribution."