What was meant to be a day of triumph and celebration for a promising law student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago turned into one of heartbreak and mourning.
Alexia Trim, the 24-year-old student of the Faculty of Law’s LLB programme, was due to graduate on Thursday, Oct, 23, 2025, with first-class honours, an achievement that reflected years of dedication and perseverance. But just hours before the ceremony, the university confirmed her passing in Colombia, following complications from a medical procedure.
In an official statement, UWI St. Augustine described Trim as an exceptional student whose academic promise and spirit left a lasting mark on her peers and professors.
“Alexia was supposed to graduate today with a Bachelor of Law degree with first-class honours,” the statement read. “She was airlifted to Colombia for medical treatment to address her ongoing medical condition. A medical procedure was performed, but there were complications, and she was put in ICU. She passed away in Colombia after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22.”
Trim, who was born with an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a rare condition involving abnormal connections between arteries and veins, had undergone several treatments in her lifetime to manage the illness.
Despite the health challenges, she remained determined to pursue her passion for law, described by her lecturers as “brilliant, resilient, and full of grace.”
A Life of Promise Cut Short
Her alma mater, St. Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain, also paid tribute to their former student, describing her as “bright, compassionate, and deeply loved.”
“She passed away on the day before she was supposed to graduate with first-class honours,” the school’s Past Pupils’ Association wrote on Instagram. “May the perpetual light shine upon her and may Alexia rest in eternal peace.”
Friends and classmates took to social media to share emotional tributes, recalling Alexia’s kindness, determination, and quiet strength. Many shared the heartbreak of watching an extraordinary life end just before one of its defining milestones.
“She fought so hard for this degree,” one classmate wrote. “She deserved to walk that stage and hear her name called.”
A Reminder of Resilience and Legacy
Trim’s story has stirred conversations across Trinidad and Tobago about perseverance in the face of chronic illness and the quiet resilience often carried by students balancing health struggles with academic ambition.
Her passing also underscores the emotional toll of deferred dreams, a reality that hits especially hard in a moment meant for celebration.
While the Faculty of Law continues to mourn, there are calls from students and alumni for UWI to posthumously confer her degree, ensuring that her academic achievements are rightfully recognized.
For now, the campus community continues to honor the memory of a young woman whose brilliance, courage, and determination stood as an inspiration to all who knew her.
