The conference room at Dorack’s Place, Katouche, was crowded with upwards of 160 fifth and sixth formers from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School on Monday, June 20, the majority of whom, upon graduation, will be seeking employment in the private and public sectors. Some of the fifth formers are expected to enter the sixth form in September and a small percentage may seek to further their studies aboard, if not employed for the time being.
The annual two-day job preparation workshop was organised by the Department of Labour in partnership with the Counselling Department of the Albena Lake-Comprehensive School and a number of sponsors from the business community.
Minister of Home Affairs, Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, who has responsibility for Labour matters, spoke on “Charting Your Course” – the theme of the job preparation workshop. She advised the youngsters that whatever path they chose “comes with its own positives and negatives, highs and lows”. In addition, there were certain basic skills each of them needed in order to be successful.
The Minister identified those basic skills as having to do with attitude, ambition and appearance – firstly at school then at the job interview and eventually the workplace. In terms of employment opportunities, she advised the school leavers that while they may aspire to certain levels of jobs, there were many men and women in Anguilla who started at the bottom of their careers and eventually worked themselves up the ladder to greater success. “I encourage you not look at a job as being too small or too menial for you,” she stated. “Look at it as a learning opportunity, as a way to earn a skill, earn an experience, so that you can build on it. It is only for a time, but once that experience is earned, it cannot be taken away from you.” She added: “Whatever course you choose, young men and young women, do your job well. Do it so well that no one can do it better. You will be the better person, the better employee for it.”
Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Aunika Webster-Lake, said the job preparation workshop was one of her department’s highlights of the year, and it presented a privilege to work closely with young people venturing into the workforce. She outlined a number of areas they should pay attention to in charting their course in life. Among her several bits of advice was this one: “Don’t be a sell-out. You cannot chart your own course if you are not true to your purpose. One of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself…in this solitary moment of your life is to decide, without apology, to commit to the journey; steer clear from the poverty of ambition where people want to drive nice cars, wear nice clothes, live in nice houses but don’t want to work hard to accomplish these things.”
She challenged the school leavers “to chart a course that defies the odds and leaves the naysayers puzzled”. She added: “Doing this will mean that you will be a success at life and, by extension, in the workplace.”
Pastor Trent Berg of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Anguilla, and ministerial counsellor for a number of students at the Comprehensive School, was the feature speaker. “I want you to know that the hope of Anguilla is all in this room,” he told the school leavers. “The answers for our challenges are all right here. The success that Anguilla will experience can be because of you, and you have to determine that you are here for a purpose. There are three things that I want you to remember: remember your purpose; your passion; and the importance of preparation.”
The Pastor also spoke to them about the importance of caring for others, the opportunities that might come their way as a result, and the need to engage in positive roles which may be of much assistance to them in their pursuit of success.
The opening ceremony, which was chaired by Ms. Zulma Webster, Senior Labour Officer, was followed by presentations by a number of persons. The presentations on Monday were: Professionalism by Dr. Phyllis Fleming Banks of the Open Campuses of the University of the West Indies; How Social Media Defines You by Mr. Josveek Huligar of Anguilla Access; Customer Service by Ms. Dorla Hodge, Director of Human Resources, Viceroy Anguilla; Work Ethics by Ms. Erimel Franklin, Director of Human Resources, Anguilla Electricity Company; and Youth Talk by Mr. Kenval Richardson, Announcer at Radio Anguilla.
The presentations on Tuesday were: Anger Management and Communication in the Workplace by Ms. Sandra York-Gumbs of the Department of Infrastructure (and Principal of Comprehensive Learning Centre) and Rev. Lindsay Richardson, Methodist Minister and Counsellor at Her Majesty’s Prison; Tips for Saving by Ms. Marisa Gumbs of the National Commercial Bank of Anguilla; and Social Security by Mr. Timothy Hodge, Director of Social Security.
