In the peaceful community of Land of Canaan, where multicoloured scenery meets fresh air and neighbours look out for one another, a young teacher named Akeisha Dalton is living proof that dreams have no expiration date. As contestant number 3 in the Miss Guyana Culture Queen Pageant, she carries with her not just childhood aspirations, but a lifetime of lessons learned through love, loss, and unwavering determination.
Land of Canaan isn’t just where Akeisha lives, it’s where she grew. From baby to adult, she’s watched this diverse community flourish, with people of various ethnic backgrounds creating a culture of togetherness that would shape her worldview forever. “What makes it special to me is the sense of togetherness. Everyone helps each other and looks out for one another,” she explains.
This is where she learned life’s most valuable lessons, not from textbooks, but from neighbours who cared, friends who shared, and streets that echoed with the laughter of children playing cricket, dog-and-the-bone, and flying homemade kites. These weren’t just games, they were the building blocks of character, teaching her “the value of friendship, sharing, and togetherness.”
Akeisha and her late FatherHowever, no influence has shaped Akeisha more profoundly than her father, whom she lovingly calls her superhero. Though he has passed away, his presence continues to guide her every day through the traditions, customs, and values he instilled in his family. “My dad made sure his family learnt traits, traditions and customs from the olden days,” she shared.
In a family of mixed ethnicity, bound together by love stronger than any challenge, Akeisha learned resilience through loss and gratitude through hardship. “Losing my dad taught me to be brave and to appreciate the people around me,” she reflects. It’s this lesson that transformed grief into strength, making her not just a survivor, but a leader determined to honour his memory through service to others.
The spiritual foundation he laid remains unshaken. Even today, the family maintains the tradition he established, starting each day at 4:00AM with devotion, prayer, and Bible reading. “It helps to keep us strong in our faith,” Akeisha explains, showing how some legacies transcend physical presence.
For some people, career choices are about opportunity or income. For Akeisha, becoming a teacher was about answering a calling. After completing her Associate Degree in Education at Cyril Potter College in 2021 and her Bachelor’s in Primary Education at the University of Guyana in 2024, she didn’t just enter the classroom, she entered her purpose.
“I love helping others learn and grow,” she says, but behind that simplicity lies a profound understanding of education’s transformative power. In her classroom, every child finds safety, encouragement, and the freedom to ask questions and share ideas. She’s not just teaching subjects, she’s teaching dreams, showing young minds that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
“I am a teacher who motivates others to follow their dreams and work hard to reach their goals,” she declares, and in those words, you hear the echo of her father’s influence, the strength of her community’s support, and the passion of someone who has found her true calling.
Akeisha was crowned Miss East Bank 2024Growing up in Guyana’s beautifully diverse society, Akeisha developed a deep appreciation for the country’s rich cultural tapestry. She watches with joy as Diwali, Phagwah, Eid, and Christmas bring everyone together, regardless of background, to share in traditions and special dishes. This isn’t just tolerance, it’s celebration, and it has shaped her understanding of what “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” truly means.
When Akeisha learned she’d been selected as a finalist for Miss Guyana Culture Queen, the moment was more than just exciting, it was deeply meaningful. “It has allowed me to live my childhood dream,” she reveals, reminding us that some aspirations are worth waiting for, worth growing into, worth pursuing when the time is right.
This wasn’t just about wearing a crown or walking a stage. For Akeisha, the pageant represents something much larger: “It’s not just a beauty pageant but an avenue to show and preserve our cultural heritage for generations to come.”
If crowned Miss Guyana Culture Queen, Akeisha’s plans reflect the heart of an educator and the soul of a servant leader. Her focus areas are beautifully interconnected: education, cultural pride, and youth empowerment.
As a teacher, she understands that education is the key to transformation. She envisions promoting literacy, school attendance, and learning opportunities for children in underserved areas. But her vision goes beyond academics, she wants to help young people connect with their heritage through storytelling, traditional music, food, and festivals.
“Culture is what connects us, and I want to help keep that connection strong,” she explains. Most importantly, she wants to empower young people, especially girls, to be confident, goal-driven, and proud of who they are.
Her dreams for Guyana are both practical and inspiring: more youth development programs, skills training, mentorship opportunities, better infrastructure, and greater unity among all Guyanese. “When we work together, support each other, and stay proud of our culture, we can build a stronger, more hopeful future for everyone,” she believes.
The possibility of representing Guyana on the regional stage fills her with purpose. “It would mean carrying the heart, culture, and spirit of my country with me,” she said. “I would proudly represent every corner of Guyana and do my best to make our nation proud.”
As contestant number 3, Akeisha feels “proud and confident,” understanding that “what truly matters is the energy, effort, and heart I bring to the stage.” Her number reminds her to “stand tall, be bold, and shine in my own unique way.”
Approaching coronation night, she’s most excited about celebrating the achievements of every contestant and showcasing their collective culture, confidence, and sisterhood. Win or lose, she knows it will be “a night full of memories, inspiration, and joy.
From the classrooms where she shapes young minds to the stage where she’ll soon represent her community, Akeisha carries with her the lessons of Land of Canaan, the legacy of her superhero father, and the unshakeable belief that education, culture, and dreams are the keys to building a better tomorrow.
As she prepares to step onto the Miss Guyana Culture Queen stage, she doesn’t just carry the hopes of her community, she embodies them, proving that the best teachers don’t just share knowledge, they share themselves. And in doing so, they change the world, one heart, one mind, one dream at a time.
