Victoryne Mohabir ’28: From John Jay to Oxford University
Major: Law and Society
Minor: Interdisciplinary Studies; Writing & Rhetoric
Certificate: Dispute Resolution
Award: Ringel Humanities Scholar
Program: Student Academic Success Program (SASP), Peer Success Coach
Hometown: Wales, Guyana
Career Aspiration: Lawyer and Advocate
What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in Wales, Guyana, as an only child of my mom and dad. I lived in a rural community with a sugarcane estate just a few doors down from my house. Sugarcane was the main source of income for many people in Wales. What I loved most about growing up in Guyana was that we lived in a community that supported each other. When my dad took me to the market, he was really taking me to a friend’s house. They had chickens in their backyard, and we’d get our chickens directly from them; or we’d walk up the street to my grandmother’s store and pick up groceries. Everything was local and community driven.
Education was very important in my household. I went to school in the city center of Guyana, which was different from where I lived, and it gave me a broad perspective on what life in Guyana was like. I learned a lot from my dad, who earned his Ph.D. in Christian ministry and counseling, and worked for the country’s Ministry of Education. He managed guidance programs across Guyana, was one of the first public officials to discuss restorative justice and pilot restorative programs in schools, and took trips into Guyana’s interior regions, visiting indigenous communities and sharing what he learned about their traditions and culture. My mom was a big education advocate. She earned her master’s degree in education in New Zealand—we lived there for a couple of years while she worked on her degree—and after returning to Guyana, gave lectures at the University of Guyana.
Why John Jay?
I had a Guyanese friend who considered studying in the U.S. and was going on and on about how great John Jay was for students passionate about criminal justice and the law. So, she was the one that put John Jay College on my radar. When I learned my parents and I were moving to New York in December 2023, I looked more closely at John Jay. I researched its program offerings and learned about the law and society major. As someone interested in both law and sociology, it felt like the perfect program for me. I knew John Jay was where I needed to be.
What sparked your passion for the law?
Growing up in a third-world country, life is an example of why justice is necessary. I remember one day my dad was driving us home after my dance class when our car was hit. The accident took off the entire trunk of our car. Thankfully, we were all unharmed, but the man who hit our car—an affluent socialite—felt entitled to take away our choice to go to the police. He knew his status would allow him to avoid accountability and told us, “You’re not going to the police. Instead, you’re going to go to my mechanic to fix this. The police don’t have to know.” I remember, even as a child, thinking to myself, this guy is so confident about skirting the justice system. Where’s the evidence that this conversation took place? Where is the proof that he is paying for these damages? There is nothing in writing, where is the proof that this conversation happened?
The incident was a lesson early in life on the importance of accountability and how privilege can shape access to justice. It also gave me a deep understanding that many people in Guyana, who didn’t have power or money, were dealing with injustices and corruption in every part of their lives. Understanding this at a young age inspired me to pursue a career as an attorney.
How has being in SASP shaped your college experience?
SASP gave me community at John Jay. Being a commuter student, it can feel challenging at times to build connections, but SASP changed all that for me. If you’ve ever walked into the SASP office, you know you’re greeted with so much love, kindness and acceptance. Through the program, I’ve met many John Jay students, mentors, and mentees, and developed incredible friendships.
SASP gave me a job on campus as a Peer Success Coach. It’s been amazing being able to help students directly. I get to answer their questions, provide guidance and support, point them to the right resources, and let them know they’re not alone on their College journey.
Last semester, I had a mentee who was a little quieter than usual, and she came to the office to chat. We sat down, and after a while she shared that she lost a family member and it was affecting her. I listened, spoke with her, and connected her to resources that would best support her through the grieving process. Moments like that show me that the work I do as a SASP Peer Success Coach matters. My goal is always to make my mentee’s college experience easier by letting them know they have someone in their corner.
What was it like being part of the study abroad program?
I truly had a great time at Oxford. It was so much fun. I learned a lot, grew as a person, and made wonderful friends. The time abroad was my first time away from my parents, so I got to experience what living on my own would be like and learned how to be financially responsible. I also had the chance to live a couple of minutes from campus—which was really cool because it gave me the dorming experience. Oxford is a very beautiful city that celebrates art and culture. That’s why living there during the summer, going to class, and being immersed in that environment was truly inspiring.
As part of the study abroad program, I took the creative nonfiction writing course because I wanted a challenge. Before the program at Oxford, I had little confidence in my creative writing skills, so I purposely chose a course that would encourage me to grow. One of our first assignments was to look at a piece of art from the 1800s, connect with it emotionally, and then write a non-fiction story about it.
The assignment was difficult at first. I sat there looking at the piece and nothing was coming to me. I realized I needed to push myself to think beyond what a historical textbook could give me. I had to bring my feelings and emotions into the writing process. Sometimes it feels easier to write academically because many people have written about the subject, so you have a foundation to build upon. But creative writing is different. When you have to tap into your creativity to tell a story, the process requires vulnerability because you’re bringing your perspective into the experience.
How did being at Oxford affirm your career goals?
Oxford fortified my desire to be a lawyer because I saw justice talked about so boldly and freely. You could walk down the street and see several protests happening at once, from one focused on the lack of clean water to another protest focused on an abusive employer. Seeing those scenes in public spaces strengthened my desire to be an advocate. I remember going shopping and seeing a human rights protest in the middle of the mall. You wouldn’t think a mall would be a conventional place for a protest, but it was, and it worked. They were getting their message across to the masses.
How did you feel being named an inaugural Ringel Humanities Scholar?
It was an honor to be part of the inaugural cohort of Ringel Humanities Scholars. I was drawn to the program’s focus on the humanities and the importance of listening to and communicating with others. As part of the program, I took courses in humanities and justice, and philosophy.
The humanities and justice course was heavily debate-focused. We would choose a topic, take a side, and argue our point one-on-one or in teams. The professor reminded us, “In a debate, it doesn’t matter whether you are right in the argument, it matters that you defend your point. Stand by what you are saying.” That advice does not fit all areas of life, but when it comes to debate and to advocacy and speaking up for yourself it works because it’s important to stand your ground.
Through the philosophy course I learned to be open and listen to other people’s perspectives. Whether the person was like-minded or not, it was important to give people an opportunity to share their point of view and express their beliefs. Through those classroom sessions, I learned so much about my classmates and about myself, including recognizing my own implicit biases and how I could be more thoughtful when engaging with others. Part of that thoughtfulness includes doing research on a topic before I offer an opinion on it. Being a Ringel Humanities Scholar strengthened my communication and active listening skills and, ultimately, made me a better human and stronger advocate for others.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I see myself with my juris doctor and master of laws degrees, practicing corporate law in New York while working toward my goal of establishing a restorative justice center in Guyana. The center would connect people with legal assistance, employment opportunities, and resources to help them build better lives. I especially want to focus on survivors of domestic violence and children experiencing neglect, as that issue is very prevalent in Guyana.
