The Morris Vanterpool Primary School held its 2013 Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, June 27, at which 22 students were graduated. They will now be attending the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School in September.
The programme included the school’s Annual Report delivered by the Principal, Mrs. Celestine John.
The feature address was presented by Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett a former student at the school, now Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education. Following is that address:
Good Evening
Please permit me to adopt the established protocol. It is my pleasure to be able to participate in some small way in the graduation exercise at the school which laid a solid foundation for my educational development. I express deepest gratitude to my teachers then and to the teachers now who work diligently everyday to mould these young minds.
Graduating class of 2013, there is only one thing I ask of you at this time- please pay attention for the next few minutes. This is your night and I know you are excited but please listen attentively. I was asked to address you on the theme for this ceremony which is “Behind us lies the path of learning, ahead the road to success”.
When you think of a path, what comes to mind? For many of us, a path is a narrow track through which persons walk to get from one point to another. In Anguilla, we often speak of bush paths, or as we used to say “the bush pa”. Many are still used today as short cuts. Some paths are rocky, some may be overgrown, others are almost impossible to walk through without being stuck with prickles or thorns, some are surrounded by thick vegetation and are downright scary. People have different ways of walking through paths – some don’t even walk, they run through quickly eager to reach the end even though they may get some scratches in the process, others pick their way through more carefully (moving branches out of their way so they can pass safely).
It is no different with the path of learning. The path you have been on from kindergarten to grade 6 could not have always been an easy one. Things may have gotten a little rocky along the way. I am sure there were times when you thought it was impossible for you to reach to this point and you felt like giving up. Math was just a pain in your side. Science really gave you a headache. Why they couldn’t grade you for recess? Many of you probably had moments when you were really scared especially when it was time for Tests of Standards and now the CPEA. Of course even though all of you were on the same path, you approached it in different ways. In every group of children there will be some who will speed through and there will be others who will take a little more time and effort to get there. That doesn’t really matter, you are all here. You made it through primary school and you should celebrate this achievement.
But I have some bad news for you. When your theme says “behind us lies the path of learning” it is only referring to primary school. Learning is a continuous process. You cannot survive in today’s world without constantly seeking to learn new things. If you don’t learn new things you will be left behind – like a relic washed up on the beach.
As you embark on your road to success, learning has to be your best friend. In fact, on your road to success, the vehicle you will be driving is not a Honda CRV, Toyota or Mitsubishi. They don’t make those here in Anguilla. You will be driving a vehicle that is manufactured in other parts of the world and also right here in Anguilla. It is called education. Once you are in that vehicle, you will be going places. But first you have to determine for yourselves, what is your ultimate destination.
Usually when someone gets into a vehicle, they know where they are going. There is a saying – if you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there. So the question I have for you is where are you going – in other words what is your definition of success? If you are on the road to success – where or what exactly is success? Success means different things to different people. For some it is fame, power and riches, for others it is a good job; it may be owning a business or it may be travelling around the world; for some it may be dedicating your lives to serving others. I am not going to tell you what success should mean to you, that is for you to decide. (Just make sure it is not something illegal). The point is, your definition of success will determine your destination. Once you know your destination, the good thing is that I can guarantee that wherever it is, your vehicle called education will get you there.
There is a reason why education is now considered a basic human right. There is a reason why there are pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools. These weren’t created to torture children as some of you may believe. There is a reason why there are colleges and universities. It is simple – it has long been recognized that education is the vehicle best suited to help you reach your goals. The roads you take will be different because you have different goals, different definitions of success, different destinations, but you all need the same vehicle.
I must caution you that even when you know where you are going and you are in the right vehicle, your journey will not necessarily be an easy one. Your road to success will have many bumps and potholes. When you fall in a pothole sometimes it is not easy to get out, so you have to look out for the potholes and try to avoid them. Why? Because they can obstruct, stall or totally destroy your vehicle called education. I’ll share a few potholes you should try to avoid:
• Bad company – I know you have heard this a thousand times from your parents. Trust me, they know what they are talking about. Choose your friends carefully. I have seen too many young people throw their lives away because they got caught up in the wrong crowd. Bad company influences you to make bad choices.
• Sex – pardon me parents, I am getting real here. Sex has consequences and carries a great deal of responsibility which quite frankly at your age you are not ready for and shouldn’t have to deal with. I am not just talking about taking precautions against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. When you become sexually active you now have adult considerations to bear in mind in terms of how you care for your body. That lifestyle often distracts you from your school work because now you are doing grown up things.
• Drugs – you know what I am talking about. You know all the names for the different packages etc better than I do. You can’t learn if you’re high. If you are spaced out on weed or any other drug, there is nothing your teachers can do for you. Look around this community at those persons you know use drugs. Do they look like your definition of success? I hope not. Let them be your reminders of what not to do.
• Violence – it makes no sense. The fists, the knives, bottles, guns? What are so many children fighting for? Three quarters of the time they don’t even know. If you have a disagreement with someone so what? So what if they don’t like you or you don’t like them? There are literally hundreds of other children whose company you can keep. Get over it! If you are angry, stay in your room and punch your pillow. You won’t go to jail for that.
• Social media – don’t get me wrong I don’t have anything against social media. But please use it responsibly. Many children (especially young ladies) have embarrassed themselves and brought shame on their parents, their entire family by what they have posted on social media or shared with their “friend”. When you post a pictures or messages on bb, what’s app, facebook, twitter and the like you never know where it will end up. Please don’t become such a media junkie that your life plays out before the whole world. What you post today can come back to haunt you days, weeks or even years from now. Ensure that whatever you post today, will not cause you embarrassment down the line. The misuse of social media can be a threat to your education if not used sensibly.
• The bling – the fancy clothes, shoes, jewelry, fast cars. It’s all nice and it has its place – but don’t sell your soul for it. Don’t disregard your education so you can make fast money. Those things are only temporary. They will not last and then what will you have? Don’t get fooled and distracted. If you still really want the bling, your vehicle called education can still get you there. It may take longer, but it will be worth the wait.
Parents, it is your responsibility to help these children to avoid the potholes by helping them to make good decisions. You only need two traffic signs to fulfil this role – Stop and Go. You have to know when and how to use them. Set boundaries. Tell them what is acceptable and what is not – not only tell them, but show them by your example.Children have to be properly supervised so you cannot afford to be an absentee parent. You have to be in charge of where they go and for how long, what they wear, what they do and who they are with? Sure they will try to defy you, that is a part of growing up, but at the end of the day you must provide the guidance necessary for them to reach their destination (based on an acceptable definition of success). Your home environment and your training must be such that they can grow morally, spiritually and intellectually. By your example and instruction, children must be taught to love and respect themselves and others, how to resolve differences and how to live together. They may be driving the vehicle, but you are directing the traffic.
Graduands, if you remember nothing else that I have said tonight, remember this – you have to decide on your destination, use the vehicle of education to get you there and avoid the potholes. If you observe these three simple things I have no doubt that with the guidance of your parents and teachers, you will be successful. Congratulations to all of you, your parents and your teachers. Wherever you go, remember that you represent this school, this community and this island. Make us proud.
Good Evening.
