The recipient of a prestigious scholarship from an island legal firm said that learning of her win had brought tears to her eyes.

Aqueelah Simmons described: “I literally cried. I had been applying for scholarships for three years straight and I was unsuccessful.”

The Devonshire resident estimated that she had applied for about 20 bursaries over the span.

She said the award was “a relief — like a burden had been lifted off my shoulders”.

Aqueelah was this week announced as the 2018 recipient of Trott & Duncan Educational Scholarship Award.

The 22-year-old said that she learnt she had won the honour late this summer.

She is pursuing her Masters of Law at Nottingham Trent University, located in Nottingham, England.

Aqueelah said that growing up, the people around her always told her she would make a good lawyer.

She explained: “I was just good at speaking and getting my point across.”

Aqueelah said that the scholarship would assist her “immensely” in pursuing her education.

She explained that she had been forced to take a year away from her studies and return to Bermuda after she earned her undergraduate degree due to a lack of funds and being able to secure a scholarship. Aqueelah worked in the Family Court at Magistrates’ Court.

Aqueelah said she hoped to practice corporate law in Bermuda, but added: “My ultimate goal is to be a Magistrate.”

The Trott & Duncan Educational Scholarship Award, founded in 2007, was created to honour Shirley Simmons, now a consultant at Trott & Duncan regarded as a “trailblazer for women in the legal profession”.

The scholarship, valued at $10,000, is earmarked for educational development for those interested in a career in law.

A spokeswoman for Trott & Duncan said that Aqueelah showed the same spirit as the woman the scholarship was named for.

She described Aqueelah as a hardworking, focused and diligent young woman.

The spokeswoman added: “She has persevered at times where life, both academically and personally, has presented her challenges. She’s really a remarkable young woman.”